Phytochemical composition, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activity of whole wheat flour

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Mar 7;60(9):2129-35. doi: 10.1021/jf203807w. Epub 2012 Feb 22.

Abstract

Whole wheat flour from five wheat cultivars was evaluated for phenolic, carotenoid, and tocopherol compositions as well as anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities against HT-29 cells. The total ferulic acid content ranged from 452 to 731 μg/g among the five cultivars and was primarily present in the insoluble-bound form. Lutein was the only carotenoid detected and ranged from 1.5 to 4.0 μg/g, and α-tocopherol levels ranged from 12 to 61 μg/g. Extracts of four cultivars demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity, measured as inhibition of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA expression; however, none of the extracts inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression, a second indicator of anti-inflammatory activity. Proliferation of HT-29 adenocarcinoma cells was inhibited by extracts from all cultivars at the dose of 100 mg botanical equivalent/mL. The cultivar WestBred 936 had the greatest antiproliferative activity at lower concentrations (20 and 50 mg botanical equivalent/mL), had the greatest anti-inflammatory effect against IL-1β, and also had the highest levels of ferulic acid and α-tocopherol. This research shows that whole wheat flours of these five cultivars varied significantly in their contents of phenolics, carotenoids, and α-tocopherol as well as in their anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potentials, suggesting the possibility that wheat varieties can be selected based on potential health benefits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / analysis*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / analysis
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Coumaric Acids / analysis
  • Flour / analysis*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Lutein / analysis
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phenols / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Triticum / chemistry*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Coumaric Acids
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Phenols
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Carotenoids
  • ferulic acid
  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Lutein