Premium
The effect of a catechin‐rich extract of Cocos nucifera on lymphocytes proliferation
Author(s) -
Kirszberg Clarice,
Esquenazi Daniele,
Alviano Celuta Sales,
Rumjanek Vivian M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1297
Subject(s) - cocos nucifera , catechin , cell growth , cell culture , population , traditional medicine , polyphenol , mtt assay , cytotoxicity , biology , biochemistry , antioxidant , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , botany , in vitro , medicine , genetics , environmental health
Abstract Catechins are polyphenols with antioxidant activity. The fruit Cocos nucifera (Palmae) has a ber husk rich in catechins and the local population of northeast Brazil uses it as a medicine against various diseases. An anti‐bacterial and anti‐viral activity has been already observed using this substance. Plant extracts, from other sources, rich in catechins are inhibitory to tumour cells, suppressing their proliferation. The aim of the present work was to verify if catechins isolated from Cocos nucifera were capable of inhibiting cell proliferation. An extract obtained from Cocos nucifera was puried through adsorption chromatography using the resin XAD‐2. The puried material was used in cultures of an erythroleukaemia cell line (K562) and on normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cell viability was assessed using MTT. Cellular proliferation was measured by [ 3 H]‐thymidine incorporation and cell cycle analysis in a ow cytometer. A dose‐dependent inhibitory effect was observed on tumour cells and on lymphocytes activated by phytohemaglutinin (PHA) or phorbol ester. For PHA this effect was irreversible being already established on the rst four hours of culture. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.