Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and one of the leading causes of cancer death in Taiwan. Tumor metastasis is a major cause of death for cancer patients. It is well understood that oxidative stress is intricately associated to hepatic carcinogenesis. Although Monascus pigment has been shown to inhibit cell growth of Breast cancer, the anti-metastatic action is poorly understood. In the present study, we have focused on the anti-metastatic effects and mechanisms of the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75. Here, we used SK-Hep-1 cells (a highly invasive hepatoma cell line) and BNL.CL 2 (mouse liver cell line and be used as normal liver cell) to test whether the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 has anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and antioxidants activity. After incubation with different fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 (1-100 g/mL) for 24 and 48 h, we determined migration, invasion, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activities in SK-Hep-1 cells, and examined lipid peroxidation and DNA strand breakage (measured as comet assay) in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage model in BNL.CL 2 cells. We showed that incubation of cells with the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 (1-100 g/mL) for 24 and 48 h resulted in significant inhibition of invasion and migration in SK-Hep-1 cells and that these effects were concentration-dependent. At 100 g/mL, the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 significantly inhibited cell migration and cell invasion by 46 and 68%, respectively. In addition, the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 also inhibited lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) and DNA stand breaks, with 51% (P<0.05) and 61% (P<0.05) suppression, respectively, at 100 g/mL fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75. We conclude that the fermentation of M.purpureus CWT75 has a significant anti-invasion and anti-migration activity in hepatoma cells, and exerts anti-oxidative activity in liver cells.
