article · Molecules
Hesperidin, a natural flavonoid found in citrus fruits, exhibits protective properties against inflammation and shows antitumor activity against breast cancer cells. In laboratory tests on male mice exposed to toxic lipopolysaccharide, the compound demonstrated protective effects on liver and spleen tissues. Measurements revealed changes in antioxidant activity, including elevated levels of glutathione and catalase in the liver, as well as shifts in inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-33 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the spleen. When tested on human breast cancer cells in culture, hesperidin generated concentration-dependent cell toxicity and significantly restricted colony formation. The treated cancer cells showed distinct morphological hallmarks of late-stage apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. These findings indicate that hesperidin possesses biological actions that could aid in mitigating inflammation and combating malignant cell growth.
Chronic inflammation and cancer remain major health challenges worldwide. Exploring naturally derived compounds such as citrus flavonoids helps identify alternative or complementary therapeutic candidates. By demonstrating both tissue-protective actions against inflammatory stress in animal models and tumour-suppressing capabilities in cultured breast cancer cells, this research highlights the multifaceted biological mechanisms of hesperidin in disease prevention.
This study suggests potential applications in pharmaceutical development and functional health formulations targeting inflammatory conditions or breast cancer therapies. Potential users include drug developers, nutraceutical manufacturers, and oncology researchers seeking plant-derived bioactive leads. Because the evidence is derived entirely from early-stage cell culture assays and preliminary rodent experiments, substantial pre-clinical validation, formulation work, and clinical trials will be necessary before any commercial therapeutic product can be realised.
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(1) Background: Plant flavonoids are efficient in preventing and treating various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of hesperidin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, in inhibiting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation, which induced lethal toxicity in vivo, and to evaluate its importance as an antitumor agent in breast cancer. The in vivo experiments revealed the protective effects of hesperidin against the negative LPS effects on the liver and spleen of male mice. (2) Methods: In the liver, the antioxidant activity was measured by estimating the concentration of glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), whereas in spleen, the concentration of cytokines including IL-33 and TNF-α was measured. The in vitro experiments including MTT assay, clonogenity test, and sulforhodamine 101 stain with DAPI (4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) were used to assess the morphological apoptosis in breast cancer cells. (3) Results: The results of this study revealed a significant increase in the IL-33 and TNF-α cytokine levels in LPS challenged mice along with a considerable elevation in glutathione (GSH); moreover, the catalase (CAT) level was higher compared to that of the control group. Cytotoxicity of the MCF-7 cell line revealed significant differences among the groups treated with different concentrations when compared to the control groups, in a concentration-dependent manner. Hesperidin significantly inhibited the colony formation of MCF7 cells when compared to that of control. Clear changes were observed in the cell shape, including cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation, which were associated with a later apoptotic stage. (4) Conclusion: The results indicate that hesperidin might be a potential candidate in preventing diseases.
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DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030478
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