THE ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY OF OLEACIN IN SKIN MELANOMA CELLS
22 Dec
Extra virgin olive oil is not only a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, but also a rich source of valuable polyphenols. One of these compounds, oleacein, has recently attracted scientific interest for its strong biological properties, including potential anticancer effects.
A study by Carpi and colleagues explored the role of oleasin against human melanoma cells—one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer.
What did the researchers find?
-Oleacein inhibited the growth of melanoma cells, slowing down their proliferation.
-It blocked the normal cell cycle (at the G1/S checkpoint), leading to DNA damage and disruption.
-It regulated key genes: lowering the expression of anti-apoptotic and proliferative proteins (BCL2, MCL1, c-KIT, KRAS, PIK3R3, mTOR) while increasing the activity of BAX, a pro-apoptotic protein that promotes programmed cancer cell death.
-Oleacein also modulated microRNAs (miRNAs), boosting the levels of tumor-suppressing miRNAs (miR-193a-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-16-5p) and reducing those linked to cancer progression (miR-214-3p).
What does this mean for us?
This study was conducted in vitro (on melanoma cells in the lab), so it does not yet translate into a direct medical treatment. However, the results are highly promising: oleasin seems to act on multiple levels at once, both suppressing cancer cell growth and triggering mechanisms that lead to their destruction.
Conclusion
Oleacein, a natural polyphenol of extra virgin olive oil, shows anticancer potential against melanoma, acting through gene regulation and microRNA modulation. These findings once again highlight that extra virgin olive oil is more than just a healthy fat—it is a true treasure for human health.
A study by Carpi and colleagues explored the role of oleasin against human melanoma cells—one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer.
What did the researchers find?
-Oleacein inhibited the growth of melanoma cells, slowing down their proliferation.
-It blocked the normal cell cycle (at the G1/S checkpoint), leading to DNA damage and disruption.
-It regulated key genes: lowering the expression of anti-apoptotic and proliferative proteins (BCL2, MCL1, c-KIT, KRAS, PIK3R3, mTOR) while increasing the activity of BAX, a pro-apoptotic protein that promotes programmed cancer cell death.
-Oleacein also modulated microRNAs (miRNAs), boosting the levels of tumor-suppressing miRNAs (miR-193a-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-16-5p) and reducing those linked to cancer progression (miR-214-3p).
What does this mean for us?
This study was conducted in vitro (on melanoma cells in the lab), so it does not yet translate into a direct medical treatment. However, the results are highly promising: oleasin seems to act on multiple levels at once, both suppressing cancer cell growth and triggering mechanisms that lead to their destruction.
Conclusion
Oleacein, a natural polyphenol of extra virgin olive oil, shows anticancer potential against melanoma, acting through gene regulation and microRNA modulation. These findings once again highlight that extra virgin olive oil is more than just a healthy fat—it is a true treasure for human health.
Fig| Oleacin® and Imiquimod decrease 501Mel cell viability, 501Mel cells were treated with 1, 50, and 100 µg/ml of
either Oleacin® or Imiquimod. Growth inhibition was measured at 72 h