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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #381185
Research Project: Grain Composition Traits Related to End-Use Quality and Value of Sorghum

Location: Grain Quality and Structure Research

Title: Tumor suppressive activity of high phenolic sorghum brans in colon cancer model

Author
item LEE, SEONG-HO - University Of Maryland
item LEE, HEE-SEOP - University Of Maryland
item LEE, JIHYE - University Of Maryland
item AMARAKOON, DARSHIKA - University Of Maryland
item LOU, ZHIYUAN - University Of Maryland
item Noronha, Leela
item Herald, Thomas
item PERUMAL, RAMASAMY - Kansas State University
item Smolensky, Dmitriy

Submitted to: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2021
Publication Date: 8/1/2021
Citation: Lee, S., Lee, H., Lee, J., Amarakoon, D., Lou, Z., Noronha, L.E., Herald, T.J., Perumal, R., Smolensky, D. 2021. Tumor suppressive activity of high phenolic sorghum brans in colon cancer model. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 22. Article 8286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158286.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158286

Interpretive Summary: Foods like turmeric and green tea have been extensively studied in anticancer research. However, sorghum, which has high polyphenol content, has rarely been studied in this context. Some sorghum bioactive compounds with anticancer activity have been identified. Hence, in this study, we aimed to investigate the potential cancer preventive role of whole sorghum bran in a colorectal cancer model both tissue culture and in an animal model (mouse). Our results demonstrate potential health benefits of high polyphenol sorghum bran. This research will be of interest to the scientific community and will expand the knowledge base of sorghum as a potential health food.

Technical Abstract: Colon cancer is considered to rank highly among cancers in most developed countries. Its incidence is significantly associated with dietary risk factors, including a high consumption of red meat, and negatively correlated with a high consumption of plant-based diets, including whole grains. Sorghum is a broadly cultivated cereal crop, the bran of which contains a high content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols. The present study was designed to elucidate its biochemical and molecular mechanisms and determine whether different high-phenolic sorghum brans suppress tumor formation in a genetic colon cancer rodent model. Treatment using high phenolic sorghum bran extracts resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines. Regarding mechanisms, treatment with high phenolic sorghum bran extracts repressed TNF-a-stimulated NF-'B 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 six weeks significantly suppressed tumor formation in a APCMin+/ dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-promoted colon cancer mouse model. Our data demonstrate the potential application of high-phenolic sorghum bran as a functional food for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer.