Torulene (Torulin) is an orally active carotenoid with anti-cancer properties. It suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in tumor cells by acting through the mitochondrial pathway and downregulating androgen receptor expression. Torulene has potential applications in prostate cancer research.

Torulene demonstrates a dose-dependent inhibition on the proliferation of LNCaP and PC-3 cells within a concentration range of 0-40 μM over 24 hours. Furthermore, it induces apoptosis in these cells in a time-dependent manner, with a concentration of 30 μM applied for 12, 24, and 48 hours, showing more pronounced effects in androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells. Torulene (10-40 μM, 24 h) decreases mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and Bax expression while increasing intracellular calcium ion concentration and Bcl-2 expression in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Additionally, Torulene reduces the expression of AR and PSA proteins and their mRNA in LNCaP cells significantly in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 10-30 μM over 24 hours.

Administering torulene (9 and 18 mg/kg, orally, Last for 2 weeks) significantly inhibited the growth of prostate tumors in nude mice, and this effect is likely related to the apoptosis of tumor cells.