Page 56 - FoodFocusThailand No.219 June 2024

STRATEGIC R & D

mucus defensins, probiotics contribute to maintaining the Benefits of Prebiotics from Rice in Cancer
barrier’s function and reducing inflammation. SCFAs- Prevention
producing probiotics or SCFAs induce goblet cell Rice bran is produced as a by-product in the rice milling
differentiation, mucus production, and high intestinal process. It contains many nutrients, including starch, soluble
epithelial cell integrity. dietary fibre, insoluble dietary fibre, lipids, proteins, vitamins,
3. Probiotics promote the fermentation of dietary fibre, minerals and non-digestible polysaccharides (oligosaccharides,
undigested carbohydrates, and mucus, producing anti- resistant starch), as well as bioactive compounds such as
cancer compounds such as short-chain fatty acids phenolic acids and phytic acid. Previous studies revealed that
(SCFAs), including butyric, acetic, propionic, and caproic rice bran has the potency component as a prebiotic with cancer
acids. These SCFAs serve as an energy source for chemoprevention, including cellulose, hemicellulose,
colonocytes and promote the apoptosis of cancer cells. arabinoxylan (A.X.), β-glucan, rice bran polyphenols,
Probiotics like Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 5221 and feruloylated arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (FAXO). In
Bifidobacterium lactis enhance SCFA production. Butyric addition, rice bran arabinoxylan compound directly exerts
acid is mainly produced by bacteria such as Clostridium immunomodulating effects, which include up-regulating natural
leptum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, along with other killer (NK) cell activity, augmenting phagocytic cellular
genera like Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, functions, modulating cytokines production, and promoting T
Coprococcus, and Roseburia spp. Some Lactic Acid and B lymphocyte proliferation, leading to increasing anti-
Bacteria (LAB) species, like Eubacterium hallii, Eubacterium cancer property.
limosum, and Anaeripes caccae, can convert acetate or Moreover, defatted rice bran (DRB) shows prebiotic
lactate into butyrate. Under normal conditions, butyric acid activities and chemopreventive effects in terms of fighting
is the primary energy substrate for colonocytes and chronic inflammation, combating cell proliferation and
strengthens the intestinal barrier by promoting healthy cell preventing tumourigenesis in the azoxymethane (AOM)- and
production and proliferation. In addition, butyric acid dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis-associated
increases the immunogenicity of cancer cells, regulates colorectal cancer (CRC) model in rats. DRB helps to increase
apoptosis-related proteins, boosts the antioxidant activity the production of beneficial bacteria (Alloprevotella,
of glutathione S-transferase (GST), and stimulates the Prevotellaceae UCG-001, Ruminococcus, Roseburia,
production of antibacterial peptides. It inhibits histone Butyricicoccus) and decreases the production of harmful
deacetylation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, potentially bacteria present in the faeces, mucosa and tumours of the
silencing genes involved in cell proliferation, division, and colon. In addition, DRB promoted the production of SCFAs
apoptosis. (acetate, propionate, butyrate) in the cecum. Furthermore,
4. Probiotics induce apoptosis in the large intestine, DRB restored the loss of goblet cells and improved the
inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria by lowering thickness of the mucus layer in the colonic tissue. DRB
intestinal pH, and bind and deactivate carcinogenic supplementation helps reduce CRC symptoms’ progression,
compounds, thereby reducing the risk of CRC development. such as colon shortening, disease activity index (DAI),
5. Probiotics regulate the activity of enzymes in histopathological changes, total aberrant crypt foci (ACFs),
metabolising carcinogens and control the composition of and tumours. In addition, DRB supplementation suppressed
bacteria that produce toxic aromatic amines, thus further the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory
decreasing the production of harmful compounds. mediators by inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway and
6. Probiotics modulate the immune response, produce showed a negative effect on the proliferation of cancer cells.
anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer substances, and interact These results suggest that rice bran and DRB could be
with immune cell receptors to inhibit inflammation and used as a prebiotic dietary supplement to modulate gut
stimulate tumour cell apoptosis. They can reduce intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, attenuate chronic inflammation, and
inflammation locally and systematically, crucial for cancer cell proliferation, and delay tumourigenesis in AOM/
controlling tumour promotion and progression. This DSS-induced colitis in rats. Therefore, further research is
process involves immune elements like antigen-presenting encouraged on the use of rice bran and DRB in various foods
cells (APCs), T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and beverages to promote health-promoting bacteria in the
which are essential for an anti-cancer immune response. colon and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, which has an
Probiotics help differentiate immune cells such as dendritic impact on cancer prevention in the global population.
cells and T and B lymphocytes, stimulating anti-
inflammatory substances, antioxidants, and anti-cancer
components. Probiotics interact with Toll-Like Receptors
(TLRs) on intestinal epithelial and immune cells, initiating
immune responses and inducing anti-inflammatory More Information Service Info C006
cytokines. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei,
and Bifidobacterium spp. influence gamma-interferon
levels and stimulate T and B lymphocyte activity, producing Scan QR code for
immunoglobulin A (IgA) transferred to the mucus layer to
protect the intestinal epithelium. references.

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