The anti-
cancer efficacy of
grape seed extract (GSE) against
prostate cancer (PCA) via its anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic activities in both cell culture and animal models have recently been described by us. GSE is a
complex mixture containing
gallic acid (GA),
catechin (C),
epicatechin (EC) and several oligomers (
procyanidins) of C and/or EC, some of which are esterified to GA. To determine which components are most active against PCA, an
ethyl acetate extract of GSE was separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into three fractions. Fraction 1 was far more effective than others in causing growth inhibition and apoptotic death of human PCA DU145 cells. Of the components in this fraction, GA showed a very strong dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition and apoptotic death of DU145 cells, but C and
procyanidins B1 (EC-C dimer), B2 (EC-EC dimer) and B3 (C-C dimer) were nearly ineffective. Mechanistic studies demonstrated a strong
caspase-9,
caspase-3 and
poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavages by GA in DU145 cells.
Procyanidin oligomers eluting in HPLC Fractions 2 and 3 were obtained in larger quantities by separating GSE into eight fractions (I-VIII) on a gel filtration column. All fractions were analyzed by HPLC-UV and negative-ion electrospray mass spectrometry. Fractions I-III contained the active compound GA and inactive components C, EC, B1 and B2. Fraction IV contained other dimers and a dimer-GA
ester and was also less active than GSE in DU145 cells. Fractions V-VIII, however, caused significant growth inhibition and apoptosis with the highest activity present in the later fractions that contained
procyanidin trimers and GA
esters of dimers and trimers. Together, these observations identify GA as one of the major active constituents in GSE. Several
procyanidins, however, and especially the gallate
esters of dimers and trimers also may be efficacious against PCA and merit further investigation.