Inhibitory mechanisms of wheat germ and wheat/soy germ extract fermented with Aspergillus oryzae on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells

Abstract

In this study, anti‐carcinogenic mechanism of wheat germ (WG) and mixed wheat and soy germ (WSG) extract fermented with Aspergillus oryzae were investigated in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cell model. The fermented WG and WSG extract reduced cell viability and increased the chromatin condensation, representing the characteristic of apoptosis death. The treatment of fermented WG and WSG extract increased the expression of apoptosis signals such as p53 accompanied with a marked increase in Bax, caspase‐3, and cleaved‐PARP. The fermented WG and WSG extract showed the invasion inhibitory effect of HCT116 cell model in matrigel invasion assay by crystal violet staining. The fermented WG and WSG extract decreased the expression of metastasis signals such as p‐Akt1, VEGF, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9. These results indicate that one of the plausible mechanisms underlying anti‐carcinogenic activity of fermented WG and WSG extract may involve the regulation of apoptosis and metastasis signals. The fermented WG and WSG could be used for the development of anti‐carcinogenic nutraceutical and pharmaceutical food.Grant Funding Source : ASN