Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Oral Supplementation Mitigates Multi-Organic Dysfunction Associated with Carcinogenesis in

Paula A Oliveira1,2, Latifa Hajri3, Armando V Pinto Moreno4

  • 1Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.

PubMed

Insights

Oral supplementation with Pennisetum glaucum (millet) is safe and may improve health in mice with human papillomavirus-induced cancers. Millet reduced inflammation and lesions, showing promise for paraneoplastic syndromes.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Oncology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers often involve systemic inflammation and cachexia, leading to multi-organ dysfunction.
  • Investigating natural interventions is crucial for managing these complex oncological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of Pennisetum glaucum (millet) oral supplementation on multi-organ dysfunction in HPV16-transgenic mice.
  • To assess the safety and tolerability of millet supplementation in both wildtype and transgenic mouse models.

Main Methods:

  • Four-week oral supplementation study involving wildtype and HPV16-transgenic mice fed standard or millet-supplemented diets.
  • Monitoring of body weight, food/water intake, and animal welfare.
  • Analysis of blood and tissue samples post-sacrifice to assess health status, glucose levels, antioxidant responses, and lesion severity.

Main Results:

  • Pennisetum glaucum supplementation was safe and well-tolerated, with no adverse effects on animal behavior or welfare.
  • In HPV16-transgenic mice, millet supplementation improved health status, reduced serum glucose, enhanced antioxidant responses, and decreased HPV-induced skin and organ lesion severity.
  • The study demonstrated a beneficial impact of millet on mitigating multi-organ dysfunction associated with HPV-induced cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Pennisetum glaucum is a safe functional food candidate for managing systemic paraneoplastic syndromes associated with HPV-induced cancers.
  • Further research involving longer exposure periods and varied doses is warranted before clinical trials.
  • Millet shows potential as a dietary intervention to improve health outcomes in cancer patients experiencing cachexia and inflammation.