Cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside isolated from skin of black Glycine max and other anthocyanins isolated from skin of red grape induce apoptosis in human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells.

Cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (CG) was purified from black bean seed coat and other anthocyanins were prepared from red grape skin. These anthocyanins were identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. The effects of four anthocyanins on cell viability in human leukemia Molt 4B cells were investigated. The anthocyanins displayed strong growth inhibitory effects against human leukemia Molt 4B cells. Morphological changes showing apoptotic bodies were observed in the Molt 4B cells treated with these anthocyanins. The fragmentations by these anthocyanins of DNA to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, that is a characteristic of apoptosis, were observed to be concentration-dependent. N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, suppressed the fragmentation of DNA by these anthocyanins. These findings suggest that growth inhibition of Molt 4B cells by these anthocyanins result from the induction of apoptosis by these compounds and that active oxygen is involved in the induction of apoptosis in the Molt 4B cells.