Downregulation of signalling molecules involved in angiogenesis of prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) by kombucha (lyophilized)

Abstract Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage produced by fermenting sugared black tea with tea fungus (kombucha). Prostate cancer like other solid tumours is also angiogenesis-dependent. The development of prostate cancer is a multi-step process, advancing from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) to focal carcinoma, then to invasive carcinoma and finally to metastatic disease. In this study, we examined the anti-angiogenic effect of kombucha on angiogenesis stimulators/regulators (gene expression of human inducible factor-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8, cyclooxygenase-2, and matrix metalloproteinases) in human androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line. Kombucha remarkably inhibits the angiogenesis through the alterations in the expression of angiogenic stimulators. Our study demonstrates that kombucha significantly decreases the survival of prostate cancer cells by downregulating the expression of angiogenesis stimulators. These findings suggest that kombucha may be useful for the prostate cancer treatment/prevention.