Antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of proanthocyanidins-rich extracts from three varieties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bran

ABSTRACTHepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth frequently diagnosed cancer in humans. Proanthocyanidins was reported to be an excellent dietary botanical supplement for its antioxidant and anticancer effects. In this study, proanthocyanidins-rich extracts (PREs) were prepared from three varieties (Jinza No. 12, Jinza No. 15 and Jinza No. 18) of sorghum bran. Their proanthocyanidins profiles were characterized. Antioxidant assay showed that PRE samples from Jinza No. 12 and Jinza No. 15 had significant higher (p < .05) hydroxyl radical, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and oxygen radical-scavenging capacities compared to PRE from Jinza No. 18. Stronger anti-proliferation and inhibition of cell migration (p < .05) in HepG2 cancer cells were also demonstrated among the PRE samples from Jinza No. 12 and Jinza No. 15. Intracellular signaling array analysis demonstrated an up-regulated level of phosphorylated 5’AMP-activated protein kinase α and down-regulated levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-reg...