-Evaluation of geraniol as hypocholesterolemic and antiproliferative agent

POLO MP; CRESPO, R; GARCIA DE BRAVO, M.

San Miguel de Tucuman

Congreso; XLV Reunion Anual de SAIB; 2009

Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular

Epidemiological studies have revealed that a high intake of fruits and vegetables correlates with a reduction in cancer incidence. Among the phytochemicals that could have antitumor activity, the isoprenoids have multiple effects on mevalonate metabolism; some of them may account for their effects on diverse tumor cells. We have reported that geraniol (G), a natural monoterpene, inhibits cholesterol synthesis and cell growth at concentration greater than 10ìM and 100ìM respectively in HepG2 cells.The aim of this work was to study at which level of mevalonate pathway geraniol exert these effects. Cells were treated with 50 and 200ìM G. Cellular proliferation, HMGCoA reductase, cholesterogenesis, protein prenilation, cholesterol and P content, exogenous cholesterol uptake and 3H-choline incorporation into PC were determined.Low concentration of G (LCG) decreased cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting the conversion of lanosterol into cholesterol, increased the incorporation of exogenous cholesterol but it did not affect cell proliferation. High concentration of G (HCG) inhibited cell proliferation, cholesterol and PC biosynthesis and protein prenilation. LCG could affect cholesterolemia by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis at a point beyond the branch of the mevalonate pathway. While with HCG the inhibition in protein prenilation and PC synthesis could result in an antiproliferative effect