Cottonseed extracts regulate gene expression in human colon cancer cells

Authors: Cao, Heping; Sethumadhavan, Kandan; WU, XIAOYU - Jiangxi Agricultural University; ZENG, XIAOCHUN - Yichun University; ZHANG, LIN - Central South University Of Forestry And Technology

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2021
Publication Date: 1/20/2022
Citation: Cao, H., Sethumadhavan, K., Wu, X., Zeng, X., Zhang, L. 2022. Cottonseed extracts regulate gene expression in human colon cancer cells. Scientific Reports. 12:1039. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05030-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05030-3

Interpretive Summary: Cotton plant provides economically important fiber and cottonseed. Cottonseed is either glanded or glandless depending on its seed with or without gossypol glands. Glanded and glandless cottonseed contains many bioactive components. Cottonseed contributes to approximately 20% of the crop value, but its value could be increased by providing high value bioactive compounds and polyphenolic extracts aimed atimproving nutrition and preventing diseases. This study showed that unlike the toxic gossypol, cottonseed extracts did not exhibit significant effects on the viability of human colon or lung cancer cells. Most of the gene expression in human colon cancer cells was not affected by ethanol extracts isolated from glanded cottonseed coat and kernel as well as glandless cottonseed coat, but the expression of the majority of genes was significantly reduced by glandless cottonseed kernel extracts. The inhibitory effects of glandless kernel extract on gene expression in the colon cancer cells may provide a useful opportunity for improving the healthcare associated with colon cancer since it is safe without toxic gossypol contamination and it is effective in decreasing the expression of so many genes related to cancer development. This in turn may provide the potential of increasing the value of cottonseed by using cottonseed-derived ethanol extracts as a health intervention agent.

Technical Abstract: Cotton plant provides economically important fiber and cottonseed. Cottonseed contributes to approximately 20% of the crop value, but its value could be increased by providing high value bioactive compounds and polyphenolic extracts aimed at improving nutrition and preventing diseases. Plant extracts have been used as medicinal remedy for various diseases. The objective of this study was to survey the effect of cottonseed extracts on cell viability and gene expression in human colon cancer cells. COLO 225 cells were treated with ethanol extracts from glanded and glandless cottonseed followed by MTT and qPCR assays. Cottonseed extracts showed minor effects on cell viability. qPCR assay analyzed 55 mRNAs involved in several pathways including DGAT, GLUT, TTP, IL, gossypol-regulated genes and TTP-mediated mRNAs. BCL2 mRNA was selected as the internal reference for qPCR assay due to its stability among the 55 mRNAs analyzed. qPCR data showed minor effects of ethanol extracts from glanded seed coat and kernel and glandless seed coat on mRNA levels in the cells. However, glandless seed kernel extract significantly reduced mRNA levels of a number of genes involved in glucose transport, lipid biosynthesis and inflammation. The inhibitory effects of glandless kernel extract on gene expression may provide a useful opportunity for improving nutrition and healthcare associated with colon cancer since it is safe to use without toxic gossypol contamination. This in turn may provide the potential of increasing cottonseed value by using ethanol extract as a nutrition/health intervention agent.