Online monitoring of cellular metabolism in the MCF-7 carcinoma cell line treated with phytoestrogen extracts.

Background: Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring, plant-derived, nonsteroidal phytochemicals with anticarcinogenic potential. The aim of this study was to isolate phytoestrogens from the flax root of Linum usitatissimum and to test their effect on cellular metabolism in the human mammalian carcinoma cell line MCF-7 using the Bionas(R) 2500 analysis system. Materials and Methods: Metabolically relevant parameters such as acidification, oxygen consumption and cell adhesion were registered continuously over 8 and 24 hours on six sensor chips in parallel at different concentrations of flax root extracts. Results: The extracts from flax roots of L. usitatissimum reduced extracellular acidification, respiration and adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: The Bionas(R) 2500 analysis system allows multiparametric online monitoring of cellular processes and can be used to detect the mode of action of anticarcinogenic compounds in cellular metabolism.