Microencapsulated <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> in Combination with Quercetin Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Development in Apc^Min/+ Mice

• Main Authors: Iván Benito, Ignacio J. Encío, Fermín I. Milagro, María Alfaro, Ana Martínez-Peñuela, Miguel Barajas, Florencio Marzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: quercetin; <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i>; <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i>; energy expenditure; colon cancer; Wnt/β-catenin
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4906
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

Recent studies have suggested that flavonoids such as quercetin and probiotics such as <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> (<i>Bf</i>) and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> (<i>Lg</i>) could play a relevant role in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. Our study investigated the role of dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics (<i>Bf</i> and <i>Lg</i>) along with quercetin in the development of mouse colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Adenomatous polyposis coli/multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc^Min/+) mice were fed a standard diet or the same diet supplemented with microencapsulated probiotics (<i>Bf</i> and <i>Lg</i> strains, 10⁷ CFU/100 g food) or both probiotics strains plus microencapsulated quercetin (15 mg/100 g food) for 73 days. Changes in body and organ weights, energy metabolism, intestinal microbiota, and colon tissue were determined. The expression of genes related to the Wnt pathway was also analyzed in colon samples. Results: Dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics or microencapsulated probiotics plus quercetin reduced body weight loss and intestinal bleeding in Apc^Min/+ mice. An improvement in energy expenditure was observed after 8 weeks but not after 10 weeks of treatment. A supplemented diet with microencapsulated <i>Bf</i> and <i>Lg</i> reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and adenomas by 45% and 60%, respectively, whereas the supplementation with <i>Bf</i>, <i>Lg</i> and quercetin decreased the number of ACF and adenomas by 57% and 80%, respectively. Microencapsulated <i>Bf</i> and <i>Lg</i> in combination with quercetin could exert inhibition of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the colon of Apc^Min/+ mice Conclusions: The administration of microencapsulated <i>Bf</i> and <i>Lg</i>, individually or in combination with quercetin, inhibits the CRC development in Apc^Min/+ mice.