Syngergistic Capsicum-Tea Mixtures with Potentially Therapeutic Anticancer Activity
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www.medlib.iupui.edu/faculty/crd/abstracts_p046.pdf
D. James Morré* and Dorothy M. Morré
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47909
*D. James Morré is Dow Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University School of Pharmacy.
Our research is based on the discovery of a novel cancer-specific and growth-related cell-surface protein with protein disulfide-thiol interchange and hydroquinone and NADH oxidase activities designated tNOX (1, 2). The protein is unique in that it is associated with all forms of cancer and is absent from normal cells and tissues. Activity of the protein is correlated with cancer growth and, when blocked, cancer cells fail to enlarge following division and eventually die as a result of apoptosis.
Among the most potent and effective inhibitors of tNOX are naturally occurring polyphenols exemplified by the principal tea catechin (-)-epitgallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) (2) and the vanilloid capsaicin (1). These substances are safe and without adverse effects on NOX activity and growth of normal cells and tissues. Catechin-vanilloid combinations reported here are 10- to 100-times more effective than either component alone. The potential use for tea catechin-Capsicum vanilloid mixtures in cancer prevention and control is unique among nutriceutical products from natural sources in that a target molecule linked to the uncontrolled growth and metastasis characteristic of cancer has been identified.
We reported earlier synergies among ester bond-containing catechins and non-ester bond containing catechins having enhanced efficacy for slowing growth of cancer cells (3). Synergy is also encountered with other tNOX-blocking agents such as the Capsicum vanilloids.
Here, we report a synergy between a decaffeinated green tea concentrate and a vanilloid-containing Capsicum preparation obtained commercially. At a ratio of 25 parts green tea concentrate to 1 part Capsicum preparation, the resultant product exhibited efficacy in the killing of cancer cells in culture 100- times that of green tea on a weight basis. These studies were guided by assays of the putative catechin- vanilloid target protein tNOX, a cell surface growth-related enzymatic activity specific to cancer. The activity of the protein target was inhibited by the tea catechins and the Capsicum vanilloids. As with growth, the tea and Capsicum preparations evaluated were synergistic in their inhibition of the target enzymatic activity. Compassionate intervention trails suggest the mixture, known as Capsibiol-T, to be potentially therapeutic for several forms of human cancer (4).