Effect and mechanism of apple polysaccharides on experimental colitis associated colorectal cancer in mice / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects and mechanisms of apple polysaccharides (AP) on tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer. METHODS: AP was obtained from apple pomace and its protective efficacy was evaluated on carcinogenesis in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The effects of AP on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway were measured using immunohistochemistry, ELISA and Western blot. The serum were collected and TNF-a was measured by ELISA kits. RESULTS: After 20 weeks of continuous treatment, the incidence of colon cancer formation was 95% in the mice treated with AOM/DSS (model group), and these reduced to 26%, 10% and 5% in AP (1.25%, 2.5% and 5%) treatment group respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TLR4 (membrane protein), MyD88, NF-κB p65 (nuclear protein) expression decreased significantly at protein level; and the secretion of TNF-α decreased in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AP could protect ICR mice from CACC effectively and the possible mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathways.