Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid derived from hops induces apoptosis and inhibits NF-kappaB activation in prostate epithelial cells

Colgate, Emily C.; Miranda, Cristobal L.; Stevens, Jan F.; Bray, Tammy M.; Ho, Emily

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2006.02.015

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Volume 246, Issue 1 , Pages 201-209, 8 February 2007

Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid derived from hops induces apoptosis and inhibits NF-kappaB activation in prostate epithelial cells

Emily C. Colgate
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Cristobal L. Miranda
- Environmental Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Jan F. Stevens
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Tammy M. Bray
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Emily Ho
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, 108 Milam, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. Tel.: +1 541 737 9559; fax: +1 541 737 6914.

Received 29 October 2005; received in revised form 30 January 2006; accepted 20 February 2006.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that certain natural compounds found in plants may be useful as cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents. Limited in vitro studies indicate that several prenylated flavonoids present in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) possess anticarcinogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-tumorigenic effects of xanthohumol (XN), the major prenylflavonoid in hops, on prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia. BPH-1 and PC3 cell lines were used in our study to represent both non-tumorigenic hyperplasia and malignant prostate cancer. In both BPH-1 and PC3 cells, XN and its oxidation product, XAL, decreased cell viability in a dose dependent manner (2.5–20μM) as determined by MTT assay and caused an increase in the formation of early and late apoptotic cells as determined by Annexin V staining and multicaspase assays. XN and its oxygenated derivative also induced cell cycle changes in both cells lines, seen in an elevated sub G1 peak at 48h treatment. Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the activation of proapoptotic proteins, Bax and p53. XN and its derivative caused decreased activation of NFκB. This work suggests that XN and its oxidation product, XAL, may be potentially useful as a chemopreventive agent during prostate hyperplasia and prostate carcinogenesis, acting via induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of NFκB activation in BPH-1 cells.