Glucosinolate-rich hydrolyzed extract from Moringa oleifera leaves decreased the production of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines and induced ROS and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

The objective was to characterize the phytochemical profile of Moringa oleifera leaves extracts (aqueous, AE; methanolic, ME; glucosinolates, GE; and glucosinolate-rich hydrolyzed, GEH) and comparatively evaluate their antiproliferative effect on HCT116 and HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells. Moringa extracts were composed of chlorogenic acid, quercetin glucoside, quercetin-malonyl-glucoside, and glucomoringin. IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.17 to 3.17 mg/mL, suggesting that moringa leaves extracts exhibited antiproliferative effects on colon cancer cells. GEH decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). GEH increased apoptosis up to 58.1% in HCT116 (IC₅₀: 0.55 mg/mL) and 38% in HT-29 (IC₅₀: 0.59 mg/mL). GEH increased ROS LDH activity, and induced the expression of markers of apoptosis such as Bax (HCT116: 41%; HT-29: 52%) and Cyt c (HCT116:70%; HT-29:59%), while decreasing Bcl-2 (HCT116: 58%; HT-29: 43%) compared to untreated cells (p < 0.05). GEH can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation through promoting apoptosis by ROS-mediated mitochondrial-dependent pathway.