Anti-cancer effect of spinach glycoglycerolipids as angiogenesis inhibitors based on the selective inhibition of DNA polymerase activity

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2011 Jan;11(1):32-8. doi: 10.2174/138955711793564042.

Abstract

Plants contain major glycoglycerolipids, such as monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG), in the chloroplast membrane. The bioactivities of purified MGDG, DGDG and SQDG from spinach have been investigated extensively. MGDG and SQDG have been shown to inhibit the activities of mammalian DNA polymerases, but DGDG has no such inhibitory effect. The effect of these glycoglycerolipids on cancer cells, angiogenesis and solid tumor growth might be mediated via their inhibition of replicative DNA polymerase activities. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the mode of action of plant chloroplast glycoglycerolipids as anti-cancer therapeutic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Glycolipids / pharmacology*
  • Glycolipids / therapeutic use
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors*
  • Spinacia oleracea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Glycolipids
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
  • glycerolglycolipids