Anti-proliferative effect of resveratrol, a natural component of grapes and wine, on human colonic cancer cells

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic phytoalexine present in grapes and wine s, has been reported to exert a variety of important pharmacological effect s. We investigated the effects of resveratrol on the growth and polyamine m etabolism of CaCo-2 human colon cancer cells. Treatment of the CaCo-2 cells with 25 muM resveratrol caused a 70% growth inhibition. The cells accumula ted at the S/G2 phase transition of the cell cycle. No signs of cytotoxicit y or apoptosis were detected. Resveratrol caused a significant decrease of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthe sis, which is enhanced in cancer growth. ODC inhibition resulted in the red uction of the intracellular putrescine content, indicating that polyamines might represent one of several targets involved in the anti-proliferative e ffects of resveratrol. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. All rights re served.