In Vitro Antitumor Activity of Olive Oil Tyrosol and Hydroxytyrosol and their Methyl Carbonate Derivatives

摘要

A Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil has been associated with health benefits in humans. The phenolic compounds found in virgin olive oil have demonstrated antitumor activity and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to confirm the in vitro antiproliferative effect of tyrosol (TYR) and hydroxytyrosol (HTYR) on human cancer cell line and to investigate and compare the antitumor effect of methyl carbonate derivatives of these natural compounds as tyrosol methyl carbonate (TYRMC) and hydroxytyrosol methyl carbonate (HTYRMC) synthesized in our laboratory by an eco-friendly procedure. Four human tumor cell lines of melanoma (Ml 4), pulmonary (H125), colon (WiDr) and promyelocytic leukaemia (HL60) were growth in the presence of 3.125, 6.25 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mcg/ml of TYR, HTYR, TYRMC and HTYRMC for 24, 48 and 72 h. The antiproliferative activity was assayed by counting the cells in trypan blue, the apoptosis induction and cell cycle profiles were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. A significant growth inhibition was observed in each tumour cell line exposed to these molecules in the experimental conditions described above. In addition this study demonstrated that HTYRMC results more effective in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction reaching 98.2% at the concentration of 100 mcg/ml. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms of these molecules on tumour cell growth.