Anticancer Activity of Mineral-Supplemented Organically Cultivated Carrot on HT-29 Cells and Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect on Mice Splenocytes

Abstract

Carrot (Daucus carota) is one of the world’s most significant root vegetables, with various bioactivities. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity and anti-inflammatory effects of natural dream cultivation carrot (NC). Natural dream cultivation is a cultivation method based on organic farming incorporating minerals. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory rate of carrot samples on HT-29 human colon cancer cells, and qPCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of the cell cycle and apoptosis-related genes in the cancer cells. The nitrite oxide (NO) concentration was determined using the Griess method. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced mouse splenocytes were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the activity of NK cells was determined using LDH analysis. The results revealed that NC effectively inhibited cancer cell growth rate. Moreover, NC upregulated the mRNA expression of cell-cycle-arrest-related genes (p53 and p21) and apoptosis-related genes (Bim, Bad, Bax, Bak, caspase-9, and caspase-3) in cancer cells while downregulating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. NC inhibited NO production and the release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-12) in LPS-induced mouse splenocytes. NC also demonstrated the ability to stimulate NK cell activation. This study explored the potential mechanisms underlying carrots’ anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties by investigating their inhibitory effects on cancer cells and regulating the inflammatory response. The innovative mineral-supplemented organic cultivation method, as explored in this study, opens new avenues for harnessing the potential of carrots as a functional food source with promising applications in cancer and inflammation management. This research not only provides insights into the bioactive potential of carrots but also contributes to the future development of novel dietary interventions and therapeutics.