Blackthorn juice from central Italy exhibits selective anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in gastric carcinoma cells

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) juice, a polyphenol-rich blend derived from the Marche region of Italy, was chemically characterized and evaluated for its selective effects against gastric cancer cells. The juice contained 996.78 mg/kg of total polyphenols, including neochlorogenic acid (628.92 mg/kg), cyanidin-3-glucoside (114.35 mg/kg), rutin, and smaller molecules - such as gallic, caffeic, and vanillic acids - characterized by high absorption rates. In vitro, the juice significantly reduced the viability of AGS and KATO III gastric cancer cells (IC₅₀ ≈ 65-70 µg/mL), while sparing non-tumorigenic GES-1 cells. In malignant cells, the juice activated caspase-3, upregulated bax, and downregulated bcl-xL, while also modulating autophagy by increasing LC3B-II levels and decreasing beclin-1. Mitochondrial impairment was confirmed by cardiolipin loss and cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm. These findings support the potential of Prunus spinosa L. juice as a selective, innovative functional beverage for gastric cancer prevention, acting beyond nutrition but before the need for medical intervention.