Effect of a Novel Dietary Supplement Texidrofolico on Cancer Cells Metabolism

Antonelli Francesco, Ferorelli Pasquale, De Martino Angelo,
Borromeo Ilaria, Shevchenko Anna, Beninati Simone,* Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Department of Pharmacology, Kabardine University, Russia

Abstract
One area of research currently garnering significant attention is the in-depth study of cancer cell metabolism. The purpose of this research is not exclusively to discover new anticancer therapies, but rather to improve the quality of life of the patient. Many cancer patients suffer from a muscle wasting syndrome called cachexia.

Cancer related cachexia impairs quality of life and response to therapy, which increases morbidity and mortality among cancer patients. The data presented in this report were collected to address disorders caused by therapies aimed at reducing tumor growth. Carbohydrate metabolism is the major pathway in the cell providing energy and building blocks for macromolecule biosynthesis. Glucose metabolism in cancerous cells is remarkably different from that in their normal counterparts. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects on energy metabolism in normal and neoplastic cells of the various components of the dietary supplement Texidrofolico (TXF), which act on their cellular enzymatic complexes. Treatment of HepG2 tumor cells with TXF reduces glucose consumption, and slows reduction of pyruvate to lactate, following indirect inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) by blocking regeneration of NAD+ from NADH. These activities inhibit glycolysis, with consequent reduction in energy yield, evidenced by an increased ADP/ATP ratio. By contrast, in normal MEF cells treated with TXF, the ADP/ATP ratio was observed to be lower than in untreated control cells, showing increased energy relative to untreated normal cells. The observed effects seem to be due to the presence of two active components in TXF: folic acid, and pyruvate. Calciferol, which exerts less influence on glucose consumption, instead shows some inhibition of LDH reductase activity.
Keywords Dietary supplements, HepG2 cell, MEF cell, Folic acid, Pyruvate, Calciferol