Ground Salicornia herbacea Powder Suppresses AOM/DSS-induced Colon Cancer by Inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin Signaling and Nrf2

This study aims to evaluate the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on colorectal cancer (CRC) progression in an AOM/DSS-induced mouse model.

In AOM/DSS-induced mouse model, treatment groups received either S. herbacea as a prebiotic (PRE) or in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum as a probiotic (PRO). PCNA, Ki-67, β-catenin, c-Myc, and Nrf2 were evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The impact on polyp formation and progression was assessed by categorizing polyps according to their size.

Both PRE and PRO treatments resulted in a significant reduction in large polyp formation when compared to AOM/DSS induced control group. IHC analyses demonstrated reduced biomarker expression for cell proliferation in PRE and PRO groups, specifically showing decreased staining for PCNA, Ki-67, β-catenin, and c-Myc, indicating downregulation of Wnt signaling and suppressed cell proliferation. Reduced Nrf2 expression highlights the impact of treatments interfering with cancer cell defenses. Notably, there were no significant differences in the outcomes between PRE and PRO groups, suggesting that prebiotics show anticancer effects.

The study suggests that S. herbacea, a prebiotic, effectively suppresses CRC progression, with limited additional benefits from combining with probiotics. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of prebiotics in CRC.