The Prevention and Inhibition Effect of Anthocyanins on Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Background: Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoids that are natural water soluble glycosidic pigments with efficacious anti-cancer effects, which have good biological activity against many cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the exact molecular mechanism used by anthocyanins against cancer is unclear; it is also unclear what a reasonable dosage might be for their use against colorectal cancer. Methods: Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, MTT assay, xenograft model, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were used to perform the experiments. Results: Compared with the control group, anthocyanins could significantly inhibit the cell viability and proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human colon cancer HT29 cells. Furthermore, anthocyanins reduced tumor weight and volume in a colon tumor mouse model and downregulated the expression of PI3K protein, inhibited AKT expression and phosphorylation, decreased the Bcl-2 and Bax ratio and reduced survivin protein expression in the tumor tissue. Conclusion: Anthocyanins promoted apoptosis of CRC cells and inhibited colon cancer growth of xenografted tumors. Mechanistically, anthocyanins enhanced the Bcl-2/Bax and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways through targeting the PI3K/AKT/survivin pathway, resulting in impairment of growth of CRC.

CPNE3 regulates the cell proliferation and apoptosis in human Glioblastoma via the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that the PI3K/AKT pathway played a key role in modulating cell proliferation and apoptosis [14,15]. In glioma studies, multiple evidences revealed that the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway could enhance cell proliferation in a mTOR dependent or independent way [16][17][18].…”

Anthocyanins, Microbiome and Health Benefits in Aging

“…All the cell lines responded in a similar manner, in which there was an increased inhibition of cell growth as the concentration of berry extract increased [9]. Anthocyanins may be particularly effective against colorectal cancer [9,[71][72][73][74][75], with evidence from a meta-analysis by Wang et al suggesting a significant inverse relationship between total anthocyanin consumption and risk of colorectal cancer development [74]. Anthocyanins derived from the six berry species mentioned prior and the grumixama fruit may be particularly effective against breast cancer [9,76].…”

“…Increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis are factors that lead to the development and progression of cancer [68]; anthocyanins may have an effect on these processes [9,13,16,[69][70][71][72][73][74][75]. The mechanism of action is unconfirmed, with multiple mechanisms likely working in tandem [71].…”

An Insight into Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Inflammation Related Diseases of Anthocyanins: A Review of Both In Vivo and In Vitro Investigations

“…Ali et al demonstrated that anthocyanins can regulate PI3K Akt signaling pathway in AD mice [93]. Zhao et al found that anthocyanins could down regulate the expression of PI3K protein and inhibit the expression and phosphorylation of Akt [94]. In conclusion, a number of studies have shown that anthocyanins inhibit COX activity, reduce PGE2 production, and reduce inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and PI3K Akt signaling pathways.…”