Effects of DNA polymerase inhibitory and antitumor activities of lipase-hydrolyzed glycolipid fractions from spinach

J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Feb;16(2):121-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2004.08.005.

Abstract

We succeeded in purifying the major glycolipid fraction in the class of sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol and digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) from a green vegetable, spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). This glycolipid fraction was an inhibitor of DNA polymerases and a growth inhibitor of NUGC-3 human gastric cancer cells, and, interestingly, the activities were much stronger when the fraction was hydrolyzed by lipase. Glycolipids in the hydrolyzed fraction consisted of sulfoquinovosyl monoacylglycerol (SQMG), monogalactosyl monoacylglycerol (MGMG) and DGDG. In the in vivo antitumor assay using Greene's melanoma, the fraction containing SQMG, MGMG and DGDG showed to be a promising suppressor of solid tumors. Spinach glycolipid fraction might be a potent antitumor compound if directly injected into a tumor-carrying body, and this fraction may be a healthy food material that has antitumor activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cricetinae
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Galactolipids / pharmacology
  • Glycolipids / metabolism*
  • Glycolipids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lipase / metabolism*
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors*
  • Spinacia oleracea / chemistry*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Galactolipids
  • Glycolipids
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
  • digalactosyldiacylglycerol
  • galactosylglyceride
  • sulfoquinovosylacylglycerol
  • Lipase