Anthocyanin-rich compositions and methods for inhibiting cancer cell growth

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression in carcinoma cells comprising the step of contacting the cells with an anthocyanin rich extract (ARE) in an amount effective to inhibit the growth and cell cycle progression of the carcinoma cells without effecting the growth and cell cycle progression on normal cells. The invention further provides therapeutic compositions and methods of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells in a patient comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anthocyanin-rich extract with the proviso that the anthocyanin rich extract does not effect the growth and cell cycle progression of normal cells in the patient. In preferred embodiments, the anthocyanin-rich extract useful in the compositions and methods of the invention are derived from chokeberry, bilberry, grape or combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.

1 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising the step of contacting the cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract from in an amount effective to inhibit the growth and cell cycle progression of the carcinoma cells without effecting the growth and cell cycle progression of normal cells.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is from chokeberries, bilberries, grapes or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising contacting the carcinoma cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract in an amount effect to down regulate Cox 2 gene expression in carcinoma cells without effecting Cox 1 or Cox 2 gene expression in normal cells.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from bilberries, grapes or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         7 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising contacting the carcinoma cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract in an amount effective to up regulate the gene expression of p21 WAF1  and p27 KIP1  in carcinoma cells without effecting p21 WAF1  and p27 KIP1  gene expression in normal cells.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries.  
     
     
         10 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising contacting the carcinoma cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract in an amount effective to cause dual blockage of cell cycle progression at both the G 1 /G 0  and G2/M phases of the cell cycle without effecting the cell cycle progression in normal cells.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries.  
     
     
         13 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising contacting the carcinoma cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract in an amount effective to down regulate the gene expression of cyclin A and cyclin B1 without effecting the gene expression of cyclin A and cyclin B1 in normal cells.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries.  
     
     
         16 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells comprising contacting the carcinoma cells with an anthocyanin-rich extract in an amount effective to up regulate the gene expression of p21 WAF1  and p27 KIP1  and down regulate gene expression of cyclin A and cyclin B1 in carcinoma cells, without effecting the gene expression of p21 WAF1  and p27 KIP1  cyclin A and cyclin B1 in normal cells.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carcinoma cells are cancer carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells in a patient comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anthocyanin-rich extract effective to inhibit the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells without effecting the growth and cell cycle progression of normal cells in the patient.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the carcinoma cells are colon carcinoma cells.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries, bilberries, grapes or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of colon carcinoma cells in a patient comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anthocyanin-rich extract derived from chokeberries capable of causing dual blockage of cell cycle progression at both the G 1 /G 0  and G 2 /M phases of the cell cycle without effecting the cell cycle progression in normal cells.  
     
     
         23 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anthocyanin-rich extract capable of inhibiting the growth and cell cycle progression of carcinoma cells in a patient without effecting the growth and cell cycle progression of normal cells in the patient.  
     
     
         24 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 23 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries, bilberries, grapes or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anthocyanin-rich extract capable of causing dual blockage of cell cycle progression at both the G 1 /G 0  and G 2 /M phases of the cell cycle in a patient without effecting the cell cycle progression in normal cells in the patient.  
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 25 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries, grapes, billiberries or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 25 , wherein the anthocyanin-rich extract is derived from chokeberries.