In Vitro Inhibition of Colon Cancer Stem Cells by Natural Polysaccharides Obtained from Wheat Cell Culture

Murtazina A. Jimenez-Martinez Y. Ruiz Alcala G. Marchal J.A. Tarabayeva A. Bitanova E. Rakhimbayev I. McDougall G.J. Bishimbayeva N. Boulaiz H.
April 2025 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Polymers
2025 #17 Issue 8

Natural polysaccharides (PSs) have shown inhibitory effects on differentiated cancer cells (DCCs), but their activity against cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains poorly understood. Here, we report that PSs from wheat cell cultures (WCCPSs) inhibit the proliferation of both DCCs and CSCs derived from HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. Among them, NA and DC fractions showed the strongest anti-CSC activity. NA, rich in xylose, was effective at lower concentrations, while DC, enriched in xylose and galacturonic acid (GalUA), exhibited higher potency, with a lower IC₅₀ and preferential activity against CSCs at higher doses. WCCPSs reduced β-catenin levels, and some fractions also downregulated Ep-CAM, CD44, and c-Myc. Notably, DC increased caspase-3 without inducing cytochrome C and caspase-8 overexpression, suggesting a mechanism promoting CSC differentiation rather than apoptosis. Correlation analysis linked xylose content to reduced c-Myc expression, and GalUA levels to increased caspase-3. These results suggest that WCCPS bioactivity may be related to their monosaccharide composition. Overall, our findings support the potential of wheat-derived PSs as CSC-targeting agents that suppress self-renewal and promote differentiation, offering a promising approach to reduce tumor aggressiveness and recurrence.

cancer stem cells , colon cancer , polysaccharide , proliferation , wheat cell culture

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Department of General Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Asfendyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
Research Center “Bioscience Technologies”, Almaty, 050057, Kazakhstan
Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs. GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Plant Biochemistry and Food Quality Group, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences Department, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, United Kingdom
Research Institute for Problems of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan

Department of General Immunology
Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER)
Research Center “Bioscience Technologies”
Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs. GRANADA
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology
Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat)
Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology
Plant Biochemistry and Food Quality Group
Research Institute for Problems of Biology and Biotechnology

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