Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) leaves (SLs) are used as vegetables and traditional medicines in Asian and African countries. We investigated in vitro antioxidant and anti-colon cancer efficacy of ethanol extract of SL (SLE) and its major bioactive component. SLE contained appreciable amount of major classes of antioxidant phytochemicals, such as total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and carotenoids, and correspondingly exhibited antioxidant activities, such as radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). A cell viability assay showed that SLE time- and dose-dependently attenuated the growth of human colon cancer cells, HT29 and HCT116. Flow cytometry analysis showed that SLE increased sub-G1 (in HT29 and HCT116) and G2/M (in HCT116) cell populations, suggesting that the growth inhibition by SLE was due to induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Trans-well and wound-healing assays showed that SLE alleviated invasion and migration of HT29 and HCT116 cells in non-cytotoxic conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that pedaliin (6-hydroxylueolin 7-methyl ether 6-glucoside; pedalitin-6-O-glucoside) was a major constituent of SLE. Moreover, FRAP, growth-inhibitory, anti-invasive, and anti-migratory activities of pedaliin were found. These results demonstrated that SLE possesses in vitro antioxidant and anti-colon cancer activities and that pedaliin is a major component contributing to such activities.

Cancer is a major disease burden around the world. Among cancers at different organ sites, lung cancer is the most prevalent and leading cause of death in most countries, while colorectal cancer ranks second in both incidence and mortality in more developed countries (Siegel et al., 2019). Carcinogenesis is a multi-stage process of cancer development, whereby normal cells evolve progressively to a tumorigenic and ultimately malignant state. Sustaining stimulated growth and activating metastasis are the most distinctive properties that cancer cells must acquire during the multi-stage carcinogenesis (Hanahan & Weinberg, 2011). Stimulated growth is the fundamental characteristics of cancer cells, which is achieved by dysregulated cell cycle and resisted programmed cell death, called

Rice bran, a by-product of the rice dehulling process, contains bioactive polysaccharides which have immunomodulatory activity. We prepared fermented rice bran with Lentinus edodes mycelia [Erom's fermented rice bran (EFR)] to extract the polysaccharides and improve the immune-enhancing properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and ex vivo immunostimulatory effects of EFR on mouse macrophages and splenocytes. We investigated the effects of EFR on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines using the Griess assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cytokines in RAW264.7 cells was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Additionally, peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes were isolated from C57/BL6 mice. The macrophage lysosomal enzyme activity and splenocyte proliferation were determined using a lysosomal acid phosphatase assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, respectively. In vitro studies showed that EFR significantly increased the production of NO and cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α], and up-regulated the mRNA expression of iNOS and cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. Ex vivo studies revealed that EFR increased splenocyte proliferation and lysosomal enzyme activity of peritoneal macrophages. These findings indicate that EFR could enhance immunity by inducing macrophage activation and splenocyte proliferation. Therefore, EFR has potential as a source material for functional foods that boost the immune system.