Effects of lupeol on estrogen and androgen receptor-positive breast and prostate cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: Different reports have shown that prostate and breast cancers are the most common cases worldwide. It is known that food and feed ingredients consist of various natural substances. Triterpenoids (belonging to the phytosterol family) are natural substances with different beneficial effects such as hepatoprotection, anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, and effects against ulcers, sepsis as well as tumors. The current study aims to investigate the anti-proliferative and antioxidant effects of lupeol (as a dietary triterpene), in line with the effects of lupeol on the expression of estrogen and androgen receptors in breast (MCF-7) and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cell lines.

Methods: MCF-7 and LNCaP cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of the lupeol (1, 10, and 100 µM) for 24h. The cytotoxicity of the lupeol was assessed by MTT and Neutral Red assays. Moreover, TAC (total antioxidant capacity), and gene expression of androgen and estrogen receptors were measured by spectrophotometric and qPCR methods respectively. 17 beta-estradiol (E2) (9 nM) and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (5 µM) were selected as the controls.

Result: The highest concentration of the lupeol induced cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and LNCaP cells. Various levels of lupeol at the specified time intervals increased TAC levels in comparison with the control group. Moreover, the expression of estrogen receptors (α and β) and androgen receptors were negatively affected by lupeol.

Conclusion: Lupeol can increase the antioxidant capacity and down-regulate the expressions of androgen and estrogen receptors on gene expression levels in MCF-7 and LNCaP cells