Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds inactivates the PI3-kinase/PKB pathway and induces apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the chemopreventative/antiproliferative potential of a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) against colon cancer cells (CaCo2 cells) and to investigate its mechanism of action. GSPE (10–100 μg/ml) significantly inhibited cell viability and increased apoptosis in CaCo2 cells, but did not alter viability in the normal colon cell line (NCM460). The increased apoptosis observed in GSPE-treated CaCo2 cells correlated with an attenuation of PI3-kinase (p110 and p85 subunits) and decreased PKB Ser473 phosphorylation. GSPE might thus exert its beneficial effects by means of increased apoptosis and suppression of the important PI3-kinase survival-related pathway.