Effects of Phytoestrogen Extracts Isolated from Elder Flower on Hormone Production and Receptor Expression of Trophoblast Tumor Cells JEG-3 and BeWo, as well as MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Lennard Schröder,Tobias Weissenbacher,Christina Kuhn,Sandra Schulze,Udo Jeschke,Mareike Chrobak,Birgit Piechulla,Sybille Abarzua,Dagmar Richter

doi:10.3390/nu8100616

Lennard Schröder, Tobias Weissenbacher + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8100616

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Abstract

Herein we investigated the effect of elderflower extracts (EFE) and of enterolactone/enterodiol on hormone production and proliferation of trophoblast tumor cell lines JEG-3 and BeWo, as well as MCF7 breast cancer cells. The EFE was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Cells were incubated with various concentrations of EFE. Untreated cells served as controls. Supernatants were tested for estradiol production with an ELISA method. Furthermore, the effect of the EFE on ERα/ERβ/PR expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. EFE contains a substantial amount of lignans. Estradiol production was inhibited in all cells in a concentration-dependent manner. EFE upregulated ERα in JEG-3 cell lines. In MCF7 cells, a significant ERα downregulation and PR upregulation were observed. The control substances enterolactone and enterodiol in contrast inhibited the expression of both ER and of PR in MCF7 cells. In addition, the production of estradiol was upregulated in BeWo and MCF7 cells in a concentration dependent manner. The downregulating effect of EFE on ERα expression and the upregulation of the PR expression in MFC-7 cells are promising results. Therefore, additional unknown substances might be responsible for ERα downregulation and PR upregulation. These findings suggest potential use of EFE in breast cancer prevention and/or treatment and warrant further investigation.

Highlights

A growing body of data points to health benefits of phytoestrogens in diet and to possible pharmaceutical applications [1]
The results showed that the elderflower extracts (EFE) contains phytoestrogen compounds
Further studies with fractions of the subgroups of EFE lignans and isoflavones could clarify if one subgroup is more potent isolated fractions of the subgroups of EFE lignans and isoflavones could clarify if one subgroup is than the other

Summary

Introduction

A growing body of data points to health benefits of phytoestrogens in diet and to possible pharmaceutical applications [1]. The two main groups of phytoestrogens, isoflavones and lignans, are polyphenolic compounds derived from plants with a molecular structure that closely resembles mammalian estrogens [2] Due to their molecular structure, these compounds can bind and interact with human estrogen receptors (ER) resulting in both estrogen and anti-estrogen effects [3]. Isoflavones are mostly found in legumes, with the most common representative being soy and its derivative products [6], making them more common in Asian diets, whereas lignans, more common in occidental diets, are usually found in seeds and fiber-rich cereals [7,8] Their role in the pathogenesis of hormone-dependent malignancies, especially breast cancer, has been investigated using chemically pure isolates or product extracts in several in vitro or in vivo models [9,10,11]. Their effects as hormonally-active diet components have been excessively and controversially discussed [12,13]

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