Cellular targets of anthocyanins and structuraly related flavonoids and their relevance for food safety

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Doris Marko
• Subject Area: Pharmacology
• Term: from 2003 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5401200

Anthocyanins are widely spread in foods of plant origin. These natural food constituents have been associated with potentially beneficial effects on various diseases. Depending on nutrition customs the intake of several mg per day can be expected. Increasing popularity of anthocyanins as food supplements and the rapidly enhancing market of functional food might lead to a substantially enhanced daily intake. However, information on potential cellular effects of these compounds is extremely limited. Aim of the planned project is the elucidation of the cellular mechanisms of anthocyanins with special emphasis on potential cellular targets relevant for food safety. A major focus will be the effect of anthocyanins on central signalling pathways involved in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis induction. A second focus addresses the potential interaction of anthocyanins with topoisomerase I and II. In structure-activity-studies we will investigate the effect of anthocyanins on human topoisomerases and the relevance for DNA integrity. The induction of DNA strandbreaks will be studied by single cell gel electrophoresis. We will also address the question whether anthocyanins induce cleavage in the MLL-1 gene, an effect reported for several flavonoids known to represent topoisomerase inhibitors. The aim of the study is to contribute to the risk/benefit evaluation of anthocyanins.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: Phosphoimager and accessories
• Instrumentation Group: 5230 Densitometer, Mikrophotometer, Fluoreszenz-, Lumineszenz-Imagingsysteme