Nutraceutical properties of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) extracts assessed on human colorectal cell lines

Colorectal cancer is considered the third most common cancer worldwide [1]. Epidemiological studies have found a higher incidence in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe than in rural areas of Africa and Asia, suggesting a putative role of environmental factors. Thus, the adoption of dietary patterns that introduce food with a chemopreventive role seems to display many benefits. The wild strawberry Fragaria vesca L. is endowed with several bioactive components, such as polyphenols, easily absorbable monosaccharides, vitamins, and organic acids, that can contribute to cancer prevention [2,3]. In this study, we tested the nutraceutical potential of wild strawberry extract by using human colorectal carcinoma cell lines as biological systems after phytochemical analysis of wild strawberry total extracts and subfractions. The proliferation of SW480 cells is significantly slowed down upon treatment with low doses of wild strawberry extracts: cell cycle analysis has shown a blockage in the G2 phase, with a concomitant increase in the phosphorylation level of cdc2. On the contrary, the mechanism through which wild strawberry extract acts on the cancer E705 cell line was found to be associated with the induction of programmed cell death. Finally, the lack of toxicity by the wild strawberry extract towards healthy colorectal cells makes this food a promising chemopreventive nutritional supplement.