COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF FLAVONOIDS ON THE GROWTH, VIABILITY AND METABOLISM OF A COLONIC ADENOCARCINOMA CELL-LINE (HT29 CELLS)

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of five structu ral classes of flavonoids on the viability and metabolism of a colonic adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29 cells). The most prominent structural features of flavonoids favoring both their cytotoxic activity and thei r capacity to inhibit lactate release appear to be the desaturation of the 2, 3 bond and the position of attachment of the B ring. Indeed, f lavonol and flavone are the most potent and, in both classes, the orde r of potency can be modulated by hydroxyl or methoxyl substituents. On the other hand, in our model, we did not find any correlation between flavonoid structure and their capacity to modulate cAMP level. This l ast point is discussed.