Abstract
Chlorophyllin (CHL), a water-soluble, semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll and ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound in berries, grapes, and nuts have been reported to exert anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines and in animal tumour models. The present study was undertaken to examine the mechanism underlying chemoprevention and changes in gene expression pattern induced by dietary supplementation of chlorophyllin and ellagic acid in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis model by whole genome profiling using pangenomic microarrays. In hamsters painted with DMBA, the expression of 1,700 genes was found to be altered significantly relative to control. Dietary supplementation of chlorophyllin and ellagic acid modulated the expression profiles of 104 and 37 genes respectively. Microarray analysis also revealed changes in the expression of TGFβ receptors, NF-κB, cyclin D1, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that may play a crucial role in the transformation of the normal buccal pouch to a malignant phenotype. This gene expression signature was altered on treatment with chlorophyllin and ellagic acid. Our study has also revealed patterns of gene expression signature specific for chlorophyllin and ellagic acid exposure. Thus dietary chlorophyllin and ellagic acid that can reverse gene expression signature associated with carcinogenesis are novel candidates for cancer prevention and therapy.
Highlights
Chemoprevention by natural products, dietary, and lifestyle changes has evolved as a promising strategy in the management of cancer
No tumours were observed in group 2 (DMBA+chlorophyllin) and group 3 (DMBA+ellagic acid) animals
We found that 1,700 genes were differentially expressed in DMBA (Table S1); 104 genes in DMBA+chlorophyllin (Table S2); and 37 genes in DMBA+ellagic acid treated groups relative to control (Table S3)
Summary
Chemoprevention by natural products, dietary, and lifestyle changes has evolved as a promising strategy in the management of cancer. Dietary phytochemicals have gained significant recognition in recent years as potential candidates for cancer chemoprevention owing to their ability to arrest or reverse the cellular and molecular processes associated with carcinogenesis [1]. Chlorophyllin (CHL), a water-soluble, semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll, and ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound in berries, grapes, and nuts have been reported to exert potent antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects [2,3,4]. Chlorophyllin has been reported to exhibit antiproliferative effects in colon, breast, and leukemic cancer cell lines [6,7,8]. Human intervention trials with chlorophyllin showed a decrease in aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
