Anti-cancer activity of the bioactive compound inositol pentakisphosphate

Abstract

Bioactive compounds are extra nutritional constituents found in small quantities in foods. We have recently shown that a bioactive compound, inositol pentakisphosphate (IP 5 ), a naturally occurring substance that is present in most legumes, wheat bran and nuts, inhibits cell growth of ovarian, lung and breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that IP 5 specifically blocks the activation of the critical phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) effector Akt, a serine/threonine kinase which plays a key role in different intracellular processes such as cell survival and proliferation. Due to its role in cancer development and progression, the PI3K/Akt pathway is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Interestingly, IP 5 possesses anti tumour activity in mice to the same extent than cytotoxic drug cisplatin. Furthermore, IP 5 enhances the effect of cytotoxic drugs in ovarian and lung cancer cells. These results support a role for IP 5 as an anti-tumour agent that may sensitise cancer cells to the action of commonly used anti-cancer drugs. In addition we have recently observed that specific modifications of the IP 5 structure may result in compounds with the same solubility and lack of toxicity in vivo but broader range of action and a higher activity compared to parental molecule indicating that IP 5 may represents a promising molecule for further development of novel anticancer drugs. Therefore, our study reveals a new pharmacologically active nutrient (nutraceutical) as a potential chemopreventive agent and a lead compound for possible development of potent small molecule PI3K/Akt inhibitors.

Phytic Acid and Inorganic Phosphate Composition in Soybean Lines with Independent IPK1 Mutations

“…In addition, the effect of such high accumulation of IP 5 and IP 4 will need to be evaluated for nutritional value in soybean meal. Interestingly, a series of studies identified IP 5 as a potential anticancer compound because it can block the activation of a critical human enzyme which plays a key role in cell survival and proliferation (reviewed in Falasca, 2009).…”

Cancer chemoprevention by nuts: evidence and promises

“…In some in vitro studies IP 6 has been demonstrated to stop breast cancer cell proliferation in human cell lines (107). Another very interesting bioactive compound present in wheat bran, legumes and nuts at very high concentration (108), is IP 5 . It has been recently proved that this substance plays a role as anti-tumor agent in mice and that it enhances the effect of cytotoxic drugs in ovarian and cancer cells (69)(70)(71)108).…”