Anti-tumorigenicity of dietary α-mangostin in an HT-29 colon cell xenograft model and the tissue distribution of xanthones and their phase II metabolites

Abstract

Scope: This study investigated the in vivo and in vitro activity of α-mangostin (α-MG), the most abundant xanthone in mangosteen pericarp, on HT-29 cell tumorigenicity, proliferation, and several markers of tumor cell activity, as well as the profile and amounts of xanthones in serum, tumor, liver, and feces.

Methods and results: Balb/c nu/nu mice were fed either control diet or diet containing 900 mg α-MG/kg. After 1 week of acclimation to diet, mice were injected subcutaneously with HT-29 cells and fed the same diets ad libitum for an additional 2 or 4 weeks. After 2 and 4 weeks, tumor mass and the concentrations of BcL-2 and β-catenin in tumors of mice fed diet with α-MG were significantly less than in mice fed control diet. Xanthones and their metabolites were identified in serum, tumor, liver, and feces. In vitro treatment of HT-29 cells with α-MG also inhibited cell proliferation and decreased expression of BcL-2 and β-catenin.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that the anti-neoplastic effect of dietary α-MG is associated with the presence of xanthones in the tumor tissue. Further investigation of the impact of beverages and food products containing xanthones on the prevention of colon cancer or as complementary therapy is merited.