Growth inhibition of HT-29 colon cancer cells by various berry extracts Cuiwei Zhao, Tao Yu, Minnie Malik, Larry W. Douglass, Bernadene A. Magnuson. University of Maryland, College Park, MD. We have previously reported that anthocyanin-rich extracts from grape, bilberry and chokeberry specially inhibit colon cancer cell, but not normal colon cell growth. The purpose of these experiments was to further explore the growth inhibitory effect of other berry extracts and to identify active compounds through fractionation. Methanol extracts from blueberries, black raspberries and strawberries were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of colon adenocarcinoma-derived cells, HT-29, at concentrations ranging from 0-50 ėg/mL growth media. Black raspberry extract was fractionated using either water/dichloromethane (1:1) partitioning or silica gel chromatography. Five of the resulting fractions (F001, F003, F004, DM and ET) were compared for their inhibitory at concentrations ranging from 0-100 ėg/mL growth media. HT-29 cell growth was monitored for 24, 72 and 144 hour using the sulforhodamine B assay and morphological evaluation. Treatments were randomly assigned on 24-well plates for each time point. Every treatment had three replicas, and whole experiments were repeated. Cell growth data were analyzed using PROC Mixed of SAS for Windows 8.1. After exposure to 50 ėg/mL blueberry and black raspberry methanol extracts for 24 hour, HT-29 cell growth was inhibited by 26% and 24% respectively. Inhibition was concentration-dependent. All five extracts from black raspberry inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells, but to varying degrees at different time points. After 24 hour, HT-29 cells were inhibited by 30% after exposure to 5 ėg/mL ET or DM fractions. Cells exposed to 25 and 50 ėg/mL of F003 showed up to 50% inhibition. However, after 144 hour the greatest inhibition was observed in cells exposed to 5 ėg/mL F001. Overall, F003-treated HT-29 cells showed the most consistent inhibitory effect. Morphological evaluations indicated that cells treated with black raspberry extracts undergo apoptosis. Our studies support the hypothesis that blueberry and black raspberry extracts may be protective against cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. AACR Abstract Number: 4780, 2003 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.