Anthocyanins and structurally related flavonoids: cellular mechanisms and their relevance for DNA integrity in-vitro and in-vivo

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Doris Marko; Professor Dr. Bernhard Watzl
• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24185669

Anthocyanins, which are naturally occurring polyphenolic constituents in vegetable and fruit, have been suggested to possess antiinflammatory as well as chemopreventive properties. So far distinct cell cycle- and cell growth-related pathways have been identified as targets for anthocyanins in-vitro. However, the relevance of these in-vitro results for the in-vivo situation has not been clarified yet. As anthocyanin derivatives have been identified as catalytic topoisomerase inhibitors in-vitro, the role of anthocyanins as potentially protective factors against topoisomerase poisons will be further investigated in-vivo. Main target tissues of topoisomerase inhibitors which additionally accumulate anthocyanins and respective metabolites will be identified after in-vivo exposure. The interference of anthocyanins with cellular signalling cascades will be studied in depth, with a special focus on the specificity of the target interaction, the relevance for down-stream signalling cascades and the resulting effects on gene expression. In summary, the expected results will further characterize cellular targets which might be of relevance for food safety, thus contributing to a potential risk/benefit evaluation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria