Various Acylglycerols from Common Oils Exert Different Antitumor Activities on Colorectal Cancer Cells

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 518 - 529
• Main Authors: Ramos-Bueno, Rebeca P., González-Fernández, María J., Guil-Guerrero, José L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 02-04-2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cod Liver Oil - chemistry; Cod Liver Oil - pharmacology; Colon - cytology; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - diet therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - analysis; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - chemistry; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - pharmacology; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Glycerides - chemistry; Glycerides - pharmacology; HT29 Cells - drug effects; Humans; Hydrolysis; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Lipids - chemistry; Lipids - pharmacology; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Monoacylglycerol Lipases - metabolism; Oils & fats; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Sunflower Oil
• ISSN: 0163-5581; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2016.1152382

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Western countries; therefore, the implementation of healthy dietary habits in order to prevent its occurrence is a desirable action. We show here that both free fatty acids (FFAs) and some acylglycerols induce antitumoral actions in the colorectal cancer cell line HT-29. We tested several C18 polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched oils (e.g., sunflower and Echium) as well as other oils, such as arachidonic acid-enriched (Arasco®) and docosahexaenoic acid-enriched (Marinol® and cod liver oil), in addition to coconut and olive oils. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test indicated inhibitory effects on HT-29 cells viability for FFAs, and monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol (DAG) species, while the lactate dehydrogenase test proved that FFAs were the more effective species to induce membrane injury. Conversely, all species did not exhibit actions on CCD-18 normal human colon cells viability.
Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of necrosis and apoptosis, while the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibition test demonstrated high activity for 2-monoacylglycerols derived from Arasco and sunflower oils. However, different monoacylglycerols and DAGs have also the potential for MAGL inhibition. Therefore, checking for activity on colon cancer cells of specifically designed acylglycerol-derivative species would be a suitable way to design functional foods destined to avoid colorectal cancer initiation.