Blueberries Battle Breast Cancer Cells

PORTO, PortugalBlueberry anthocyanins and anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adducts demonstrated anticancer properties by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and by acting as cell anti-invasive factors and chemoinhibitors, according to Portuguese researchers (Phytother Res. June 17, 2010). An anthocyanin extract from blueberry (extract I) and an anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct extract (extract II) were tested on two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7).

In both cell lines extracts I and II significantly reduced cell proliferation at 250 g/mL after 24 hours of cell incubation. Caspase-3 activity was not altered by the extracts (250 g/mL) in either cell line, with the exception of extract II in MCF-7, which increased its activity, probably explaining its effects on cell proliferation. Both extracts (250 g/mL) demonstrated significant anti-invasive potential in both cell lines. Furthermore, they did not demonstrate any capacity for chemotaxis. The anthocyanin-pyruvic acid adduct extract showed a more pronounced effect in MDA-MB-231, suggesting an effect independent of estrogen receptors.