Anthocyanins extracted from Vitis coignetiae pulliat fruits induce reactive oxygen species-dependent growth arrest and apoptosis in PC3 human prostate carcinoma cells

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 489 - 501
• Main Authors: Hwangbo, Hyun, Cha, Hee-Jae, Park, Cheol, Jeong, Hyeon Ji, Moon, Sung-Kwon, Yun, Seok Joong, Kim, Wun-Jae, Noh, Jeong Sook, Kim, Heui-Soo, Shim, Jung-Hyun, Kim, Gi-Young, Choi, Yung Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering 01.06.2025; Springer Nature B.V; 한국생물공학회
• Subjects: Anthocyanins; Anticancer properties; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Bcl-2 protein; Bioactive compounds; Biotechnology; Cell cycle; Cell proliferation; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex formation; Cyclin D1; Cyclin-dependent kinase; Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Cytochrome c; Dephosphorylation; Fruits; G1 phase; GTP-binding protein; Health problems; Industrial and Production Engineering; Kinases; Metabolites; Oxygen; Prostate; Prostate cancer; Prostate carcinoma; Proteins; Reactive oxygen species; Research Paper; Retinoblastoma; Retinoblastoma protein; Secondary metabolites; Side effects; Vitis coignetiae; 생물공학; Prostate cancer cells; Cell cycle arrest; Anthocyanins; ROS; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-025-00199-6

Anthocyanins are a group of plant secondary metabolites belonging to the polyphenol family. They are beneficial bioactive compounds for numerous health problems, without side effects. Although anthocyanins have been reported to possess anti-cancer activity, studies of their effects on prostate cancer cells remain insufficient. In this study, the mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of anthocyanins extracted from the fruit of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat in human prostate carcinoma (PCa) cells was investigated. The results of this study indicate that anthocyanins-induced suppression of PCa cell proliferation is associated with G1 phase cell cycle arrest, along with the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1 expression, suppression of cyclin D1 and E expression, and dephosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB). In addition, anthocyanins markedly enhanced the complex formation between p21 WAF1/CIP1 and Cdks, as well as pRB and the transcription factor E2Fs, respectively. Anthocyanins also induced apoptosis by induction of the expression of death receptor-related proteins and activation of caspases. Moreover, anthocyanins interfered with mitochondrial integration by altering the level of Bcl-2 family proteins to increase cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c , suggesting that activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways contributed to anthocyanin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, anthocyanins significantly enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas ROS scavenger restored reduced viability by attenuating anthocyanins-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, the present findings demonstrate that the antiproliferative efficacy of anthocyanins in PCa cells can be achieved through ROS-dependent pathway.