Jarczewska Karolina, Kopeć Monika, Surmacki Jakub Maciej
Lodz University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Laboratory of Laser Molecular Spectroscopy, Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590 Lodz, Poland.
Lodz University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Laboratory of Laser Molecular Spectroscopy, Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590 Lodz, Poland.
Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2025 Oct 15;339:126263. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.126263. Epub 2025 Apr 19.
For years, xanthophylls have been recognized for their potential in medicine. Evidence supports the role of diets rich in algae, fruits, and vegetables in preventing cancer. Due to the complexity of the human body, numerous mechanisms could explain the health benefits of xanthophylls. Various studies have explored their effects on specific diseases. However, the impact of certain xanthophylls, such as crocetin, crocin, and fucoxanthin, on aggressive breast cancer remains unclear. To address this, we examined their effects on human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231 cells) using Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Our findings revealed that crocetin enhances cancer cell viability by increasing lipid and protein levels, suggesting it does not directly inhibit tumour growth. Crocin redirected cellular metabolism towards lipid accumulation, shown by increased Raman signals at 1444 cm in lipid droplets/endoplasmic reticulum. Fucoxanthin demonstrated the greatest potential, reducing lipid and protein levels (Raman bands at 1254, 1444, 1654 cm), thereby inhibiting adenocarcinoma progression.
