Antioxidant Activity of Vaccinium stamineum: Exhibition of Anticancer Capability in Human Lung and Leukemia Cells

Abstract

Fruit of deerberry [Vaccinium stamineum L.] were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity and anticancer properties in JB6 P⁺ mouse epidermal cells, human lung and leukemia cells. Deerberries contain potent free radical scavenging activities. Pretreatment of JB6 P⁺ mouse epidermal cells with deerberry fruit extracts produced an inhibition on the activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) induced by either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or ultraviolet-B (UVB). Deerberry fruit extracts also blocked TPA- or UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERKs and MEK œ, two upstream regulators of AP-1 and inhibited proliferation of human leukemia HL-60 cancer cells and human lung epithelial cancer A549 cells and induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. These results suggest that the inhibition of TPA- or UVB-induced AP-1 and NF-κB activity, inhibition of HL-60 cells and cancer A549 cells proliferation and induction of apoptotic in human leukemia HL-60 cancer cells may be mediated through the ERKs and MEK œ signal pathway.

Deerberry fruit - antioxidant activity - anticancer properties - mitogen-activated protein kinase - Ericaceae - Vaccinium stamineum L.

References

• 1 Ballinger W E, Maness E P, Ballington J R. Anthocyanin and total flavonol content of Vaccinium stamineum L. Fruit.  Scientia Hortic. 1981;  15 173-8.
• 2 Ballington J R, Kirkman W B, Ballinger W E, Maness E . Anthocyanin, aglycone, and aglycone-sugar content in the fruits of temperate North American species of four sections in Vaccinium .  J Am Soc Hortic Sci. 1988;  113 746-9.