Anti-cancer activity of a novel high phenolic sorghum bran in human colon cancer cells

Authors: LEE, SEONG-HO - University Of Maryland; LEE, JIHYE - University Of Maryland; Herald, Thomas; Cox, Sarah; Noronha, Leela; PERUMAL, RAMASAMY - Kansas State University; Smolensky, Dmitriy

Submitted to: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2020
Publication Date: 10/5/2020
Citation: Lee, S., Lee, J., Herald, T.J., Cox, S.R., Noronha, L.E., Perumal, R., Smolensky, D. 2020. Anti-cancer activity of a novel high phenolic sorghum bran in human colon cancer cells. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2890536.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2890536

Interpretive Summary: Both a diet rich in whole grains and a diet rich in phytochemicals have been shown to have colorectal cancer preventing properties. Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) is a grain with potentially high phytochemical content. Previous research has shown the potential of sorghum polyphenols to have an anti-cancer effect. In order to further study the potential of sorghum as a health food, we evaluated high phenolic sorghum extract in four separate colorectal cancer cell lines. This study has shown that sorghum phenolics target specific cancer pathways that control cell growth and the spread of the tumor (metastasis). These results further explain the potential anti-cancer effects of sorghum and will contribute to future study designs.

Technical Abstract: Human colon cancer is the third leading cause of mortality in the United States and worldwide. Chemoprevention using diet is widely accepted as a promising approach for cancer management. Numerous population studies indicate a negative correlation between the incidence of colon cancer and consumption of whole grains with a high content of bioactive phenolic compounds. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-cancer properties of a high phenolic sorghum bran extract prepared using a 70% ethanol with 5% citric acid solvent at room temperature. A significant dose-dependent suppression of cell proliferation was observed in human colon cancer cells treated with the high phenolic sorghum bran extract. Apoptosis and S phase growth arrest were induced, while cell migration and invasion was inhibited by this treatment; these effects were accompanied by altered expression of apoptosis-, cell cycle-, and metastasis-regulating genes. We also found that the high phenolic sorghum bran extract stimulated DNA damage in association with induction of extra cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and subsequent expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). The present study expands our understanding on the potential use of high phenolic sorghum bran to prevent human colon cancer.