Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Effects of Lycopene extracted from Pink Guava Psidium guajava L. and its Combination with Apigenin or Resveratrol

Abstract

Background Active biomolecules extracted from plant biodiversity appear to offer an alternative to the frequently toxic chemotherapy methods used to treat cancer. The micronutrients obtained from certain fruits, including pink guava Psidium guajava L., appear to have this property. We therefore focused on three biomolecules of interest: lycopene and apigenin, the main components in pink guava, and resveratrol, a reference biomolecule with recognized beneficial effects. Our aim was to assess and compare the activities of these micronutrients, first separately and then in combination, on LNCaP cells (prostate cancer) and UACC cells (melanoma). Methods MTT assays and confocal microscopy using anti-PCNA and anti-5-α-reductase antibodies enabled us to establish a ranking for these micronutrients for the first time, when they were studied separately to begin with, in terms of their anti-proliferative action. Results Apigenin was found to be the most active biomolecule in this respect, followed by lycopene and then resveratrol. In a subsequent study of the combined actions of these molecules, specifically “lycopene-apigenin” and “lycopene-resveratrol”, we found that the “lycopene-apigenin” combination has a stronger anti-cancer activity than the biomolecules used separately, and it is also superior to the “lycopene-resveratrol” combination. Conclusions Our study demonstrated the synergistic modes of action of lycopene and apigenin in the guava fruit and the importance of the combination of these two micronutrients in pink guava in order to obtain a high anti-cancer activity.

The Anticancer Potential of Psidium guajava (Guava) Extracts

“…Three biomolecules of interest, apigenin, lycopene, and resveratrol ( Figure 5 ), were isolated from a carotenoid extract of Cuba Enana guava fruit and evaluated for their anticancer potential against LNCaP and human skin melanoma UACC257 cells using the MTT assay and confocal microscopy. Apigenin, a flavonoid commonly found in various fruits and vegetables, was found to have a great inhibitory effect against LNCaP and UACC257 cells, observed through a rapid drop of OD values compared to the untreated cells after 72 h [ 47 ]. Apigenin suppresses multiple types of human cancers through various mechanisms, such as inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibiting cell migration and invasion, as well as triggering immune pathways toward the suppression of cancer [ 76 ].…”

“…Lycopene, a carotenoid that gives fruits and plants their red color, was also found to have a good inhibitory effect against LNCaP, although its effect is slightly less than that of apigenin. In addition, lycopene had a more moderate inhibitory effect on UACC257 cell proliferation compared to its effect on LNCaP [ 47 ]. Lycopene was reported to inhibit the growth of different types of cancer cells and prevent chemically induced carcinogenesis in animal models.…”

“…Its inhibitory effect against UACC257 was found to be slightly higher than with lycopene but lower than apigenin, a flavone molecule. However, resveratrol was found to have low antiproliferative activity against LNCaP [ 47 ]. Resveratrol targets a number of cellular processes involved in cell apoptosis, cancer angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as increases the chemo-sensitization of cancer cells towards the chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin [ 78 ].…”

“…Resveratrol targets a number of cellular processes involved in cell apoptosis, cancer angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as increases the chemo-sensitization of cancer cells towards the chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin [ 78 ]. Apigenin and lycopene used in combination caused a sharp decrease in the proliferation of the LNCaP and UACC257 cells after 24 h compared to their effects individually after 72 h. With the apigenin–lycopene combination almost completely inhibiting the growth of the cancer cells, the synergistic effects between the biomolecules in the fruit extract may lead to a better potential cancer treatment [ 47 ].…”

Dietary Polyphenols: Extraction, Identification, Bioavailability, and Role for Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal and Prostate Cancers

“…Apigenin was the most active biomolecule in antiproliferative activity, followed by lycopene and resveratrol. Considering the combined effect of "lycopeneapigenin" and "lycopene-resveratrol," the "lycopene-apigenin" combination exhibited more potent anticancer activity than the "lycopene-resveratrol" combination [70]. The sweet and hot pepper ethanol extracts were separated into lipophilic fractions.…”