Assessment of the Nutraceutical Properties of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) Extracts on Human Colorectal Cell Lines

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide; its higher incidence in the Western world, compared to rural areas of Africa and Asia, led to its classification among the so-called Westernized diseases. The wild strawberry Fragaria vesca L. is endowed with several bioactive components, such as polyphenols, vitamins, terpenes, and organic acids that can contribute to cancer prevention. In this study, we chemically characterized a wild strawberry extract through high-resolution mass spectrometry and evaluated its antioxidant properties on two human colorectal cancer cell lines: KRAS mutated SW480 cells and E705 cells. We found that treatment with the extract induced cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase in SW480 cells, while it led E705 cells to apoptosis through a significant increase in the reactive oxygen species level. Wild strawberry extract is a promising dietary supplement for both wild-type and KRAS-mutated patients who exhibit a more aggressive cancer phenotype. In addition, the lack of toxicity of wild strawberry extract toward healthy colorectal cells makes this food a promising chemopreventive nutritional supplement.