Freeze-dried jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) peel powder, a rich source of anthocyanins and phenolic acids, mitigates inflammation-driven colorectal cancer in mice

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the peel of jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg) by spectrophotometry and chromatography, and investigate its effects on mice with inflammation-driven colorectal cancer (CRC). Freeze-dried jaboticaba peel (FDJP) showed a high antioxidant capacity in vitro, and to be mostly a source of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. In the animal bioassay, FDJP added at 5% in the diet during 114 days completely abolished the formation of adenocarcinoma, which had an incidence of 75% in the non-treated group. Animals consuming FDJP showed low histology damage regarding inflammatory infiltrate, edema, and crypt distortion. FDJP significantly reduced the colonic levels of proinflammatory markers interleukin-1beta and cyclooxygenase-2, and demonstrated a probability to decrease the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear factor kappa B. In summary, FDJP mitigated CRC, possibly by avoiding triggering inflammation. Such benefit may come from its rich content in anthocyanins and phenolic acids.