Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Functional Foods Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377553
Research Project: Development of Enhanced Bio-Based Products from Low Value Agricultural Co-Products and Wastes

Location: Functional Foods Research

Title: Glucosinolate-rich hydrolyzed extract from Moringa oleifera leaves decreased the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1ß cytokines and induced ROS and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

Author
item CUELLAR-NÚÑEZ, MARDEY - Autonomous University Of Queretaro
item LOARCA-PIÑA, GUADALUPE - Autonomous University Of Queretaro
item Berhow, Mark
item GONZALEZ DE MEJIA, ELVIRA - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Journal of Functional Foods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2020
Publication Date: 11/12/2021
Citation: Cuellar-Núñez, M.L., Loarca-Piña, G., Berhow, M.A., Gonzalez De Mejia, E. 2021. Glucosinolate-rich hydrolyzed extract from Moringa oleifera leaves decreased the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1ß cytokines and induced ROS and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. Journal of Functional Foods. 75: Article 104270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.104270.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.104270

Interpretive Summary: Moringa is an interesting food ingredient and nutritional supplement for Hispanic cultures in the Americas. The nutraceutical profile, while fairly well known, has not been full characterized for it’s potential health effects. In this research article compounds known to be found in Moringa leaves including glucosinolates, flavonoids, and phenolics were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the growth of cultured human cancer cells. The results indicated that compounds found in Moringa do slow or stop the division (growth) of cancer cells through the induction of factors in key subcellular organelles.

Technical Abstract: The objective was to characterize the phytochemical profile of Moringa oleifera leaves extracts (aqueous, AE; methanolic, ME; glucosinolates, GE; and glucosinolate-rich hydrolyzed, GEH) and comparatively evaluate their antiproliferative effect on HCT116 and HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells. Moringa extracts were composed of chlorogenic acid, quercetin glucoside, quercetin-malonyl-glucoside, and glucomoringin. IC50 values ranged from 0.17 to 3.17 mg/mL, suggesting that moringa leaves extracts exhibited antiproliferative effects on colon cancer cells. GEH decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta). GEH increased apoptosis up to 58.1% in HCT116 (IC50: 0.55 mg/mL) and 38% in HT-29 (IC50: 0.59 mg/mL). GEH increased ROS LDH activity, and induced the expression of markers of apoptosis such as Bax (HCT116: 41%; HT-29: 52%) and Cyt c (HCT116:70%; HT-29:59%), while decreasing Bcl-2 (HCT116: 58 %; HT-29: 43%) compared to untreated cells (p < 0.05). GEH can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation through promoting apoptosis by ROS-mediated mitochondrial-dependent pathway.