ABSTRACT
Colon cancer (CC) is considered a high-risk cancer in developed countries. Its etiology is correlated with a high consumption of red meat and low consumption of plant-based foods, including whole grains. Sorghum bran is rich in polyphenols. This study aimed to determine whether different high-phenolic sorghum brans suppress tumor formation in a genetic CC rodent model and elucidate mechanisms. Tissue culture experiments used colorectal cancer cell lines SW480, HCT-116 and Caco-2 and measured protein expression, and protein activity. The animal model used in this study was APC Min+/mouse model combined with dextram sodium sulfate. High phenolic sorghum bran extract treatment resulted in the inhibition of proliferation and induced apoptosis in CC cell lines. Treatment with high phenolic sorghum bran extracts repressed TNF-α-stimulated NF-κB transactivation and IGF-1-stimulated PI3K/AKT pathway via the downregulation of ß-catenin transactivation. Furthermore, high-phenolic sorghum bran extracts activated AMPK and autophagy. Feeding with high-phenolic sorghum bran for 6 weeks significantly suppressed tumor formation in an APC Min/+ dextran sodium sulfate promoted CC mouse model. Our data demonstrates the potential application of high-phenolic sorghum bran as a functional food for the prevention of CC.
Subject(s)
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein/physiology , Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Dextran Sulfate/toxicity , Disease Models, Animal , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Sorghum/chemistry , Animals , Apoptosis , Cell Proliferation , Colorectal Neoplasms/chemically induced , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Novel Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were developed using beta-lactoglobulin (Blg) as a stabilizer in redox systems of selenite and ascorbic acid in this study. Particle size, morphology, stability, and in vitro biological activity of synthesized Blg stabilized selenium nanoparticles (Blg-SeNPs) were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis), and cell toxicity assays, respectively. Stabilizing mechanisms of Blg-SeNPs were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and protein fluorescence probe. The results revealed that the Blg-SeNPs were spherical with mean particle size of 36.8±4.1nm. They were stable in acidic or neutral to basic solutions (pH 2.5-3.5 or 6.5-8.5) at 4°C for 30days as a result of electrostatic repulsions. FTIR results showed that functional groups of NH2 and OH on Blg molecules were responsible for binding with SeNPs. Furthermore, decreases in protein surface hydrophobicity indicated that possible binding happened between Se and the hydrophobic domains of Blg. The cell toxicity of Blg-SeNPs was significantly lower than that of sodium selenite on both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. This study provides a facile and green method for chemically synthesizing stable SeNPs which are suitable for further evaluation in medicinal applications.
Subject(s)
Lactoglobulins/chemistry , Nanoparticles/toxicity , Selenium/toxicity , Cell Death/drug effects , Fluorescence , HCT116 Cells , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Nanoparticles/ultrastructure , Nephelometry and Turbidimetry , Particle Size , Solutions , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraredABSTRACT
Achyranthes bidentata, is a herbal plant commonly used in the treatment of osteoporosis and bone nonunion in the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Saponins are the major compounds extracted from Achyranthes bidentata that have been shown to exert various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antirheumatic, diuretic, and anti-osteoporosis. The Achyranthes bidentata saponins (ABS) were found to induce proliferation and differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) as determined by the cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase assays. Also, following the osteogenic induction, cells treated with ABS showed increased mRNA levels of rat bone morphogenetic protein-2, runt-related transcription factor 2, and osterix. Furthermore, ABS stimulated the activation of ERK as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of these proteins, which was blocked by an inhibitor of ERK (PD98059). Taken together, these results suggest that ABS stimulated osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via activation of the ERK signaling pathway.