Bamboo Salt Suppresses Colon Carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 Mice with Chemically Induced Colitis

The aim of our experiment was to evaluate the anticancer effect of bamboo salt (BS) on C57BL/6 mice in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer model. BS, solar salt, and purified salt were evaluated for their protective effects during AOM/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. BS, especially after baking for nine separate intervals (BS9x), suppressed colon carcinogenesis in the mice. BS9x decreased colon length shortening, weight-to-length ratios, and tumor counts. Pathological evidence from histological evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin staining also revealed suppression of tumorigenesis. BS9x lowered serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) to close to those of the Normal group. Additionally, BS9x suppressed colon mRNA expression of proinflammatory factors and significantly regulated mRNA levels of the apoptosis-related factors, Bax and Bcl-2, and the cell cycle-related genes, p21 and p53. Additionally, immunohistochemistry showed that BS promoted p21 expression in the colon. Taken together, the results indicate that BS exhibited anticancer efficacy by modulating apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene expression during colon carcinogenesis in mice, and repetition in baking cycles of BS enhanced its anticancer functionality.