From Biofortification to HT-29 Growth Inhibition: Selenium-Enriched Sunflower Sprouts Modulate Apoptosis- and Cell...

Selenium biofortification of edible sprouts is a promising strategy to enhance the cancer cell growth-inhibitory potential of plant-based foods. This study investigated the effects of selenium (Se)-enriched sunflower sprout extracts on human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells in comparison with non-enriched sprouts. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, clonogenic survival by colony formation assay, wound closure by wound-healing assay, apoptosis- and cell cycle-related gene expression by qRT-PCR, and protein expression by Western blotting. Metabolite profiles were characterized using LC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics. Se enrichment markedly enhanced cytotoxicity, reducing the IC₅₀ from 413.80 ± 6.00 (control) to 152.90 ± 6.00 µg/mL and increasing Emax from 59.29 ± 0.11% (control) to 75.70 ± 0.49%. The Se-enriched extract showed greater inhibition of colony formation (IC₅₀ 53.72 ± 1.12 µg/mL) and wound closure (IC₅₀ 76.07 ± 0.06 µg/mL). At the molecular level, Se-enriched sprouts upregulated Bax, caspase-3 and p21, downregulated Bcl-2, CDK4, NF-κB p65 and MMP-9, and increased Bax and p21 protein levels, linked with apoptosis-related signaling and cell cycle modulation. Metabolomics revealed significant increases in purine-related metabolites, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:3, and choline, alongside decreases in several quinic acid derivatives and related phenolic metabolites. Se enrichment enhanced the in vitro antiproliferative activity of sunflower sprout extract in HT-29 cells and may modulate apoptosis- and cell cycle-related markers. These findings support further mechanistic and in vivo investigations of Se-enriched sunflower sprouts as a candidate functional food ingredient.