Crocetin and crocin decreased cholesterol and triglyceride content of both breast cancer tumors and cell lines.
Seyed Ali Hashemi Hashemi, S. Zahra Bathaie, Mohammad Ali Mohagheghi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Inhibition of lipid metabolism in breast cancer has been suggested as an effective approach for cancer therapy. Saffron-derived crocetin (Crt) and crocin (Cro) with the known anticancer activity, have shown hypolipidemic effect in diabetes and atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the effect of Crt/Cro on lipid content in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: studies was applied. The 4T1-induced breast cancer in mice was used to investigate the effect of Crt/Cro on cholesterol (Chl) and triglyceride (TG) levels in serum and tumor tissues. The Chl/TG levels were also assessed in the cytosol of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines 6, 12 and 24 hr after Crt/Cro treatment. The interaction between Crt/Cro and hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) was also computed by docking analysis. RESULTS: =-6.0 kcal/mol). CONCLUSION: analysis indicated Crt binding in the HMGCR active site.