Effect of urolithins on oxidative stress of colorectal adenocarcinomacells-Caco-2

Abstract

Urolithins (UROs) are metabolites derived from ellagic acid (EA) and ellagitannins (ETs) by gut microbiota after consumption of different ETs. The health effects attributed to UROs are numerous and diverse, ranging from antimalarial properties to anticancer activities and regulation of gene expression. The aim of this work was at assessing the effect of URO-A; -B; -C; -D on the oxidative status of colon epithelium using as a model colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2). No significant cytotoxic effects of UROs was noted, with the applied treatments. Supplementation of cell growth medium with a mixture of UROs decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species both after short- and long-term exposure. UROs also affected the activity of antioxidative enzymes within the cell, especially catalase.

Conclusions: At concentrations reached in the lumen of the gut, UROs can exert beneficial effects on the cells by decreasing oxidative stress thus preventing the damage caused by reactive oxygen species.

Keywords:

• Ellagitannins
• ellagic acid
• urolithins
• colorectal adenocarcinoma
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant nos. 41030 and 172049 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and BACCHUS 312090 “cardiovascular benefits from food bioactives” financed by European Commission Seventh Framework Program (2013–2017).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant nos. 41030 and 172049 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and Projects BACCHUS (FP7-KBBE-2012-6-single stage, European Commission Grant Agreement 312090).