Anticancer effects of astaxanthin in stomach cancer cell lines

Abstract

Background Astaxanthin is a carotenoid widely used in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture to provide the pink color characteristic of that species. One of the most important properties of astaxanthin is its antioxidant properties and astaxanthin has shown anticancer effects on several cancer types in animal study. We assessed the effect of AX on human stomach cancer cell lines to show the mechanism of anticancer effect and its therapeutic potential.

Material and method Four stomach cancer cell lines (AGS, KATO-III, MKN-45 and SNU-1) were exposed to astaxanthin (10 to 150 mM/mL). Quantification of proliferation was performed by MTT assay. Cell-cycle analysis was performed by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS). ERK and cell cycle machinery proteins such as p27, cyclin D1 and Rb were investigated by Western blot.

Result Significant inhibition of cell proliferation was observed in KATO-III and SNU-1 cell lines by a dose-dependent manner but had no effects on cell viability. Astaxanthin blocked cell-cycle beyond G0/G1phase in both KATO-III and SNU-1 cell lines by a dose dependent manners. Astaxanthin reduced the protein expression of phophorylated ERK, cyclin D1 and increased the expression of p27 in stomach cancer cell lines.

Conclusion Astaxanthin induce cell cycle arrest beyond G0/G1 phase by the modulation of ERK and cell cycle machinery proteins. These effects of astaxanthin may explain its anticancer actions in stomach cancer.