Anticancer activity and mechanism of action of fermented wheat germ extract against ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the anticancer effects and mechanism of action of ethanol extract of fermented wheat germ (FWG) with yeast extract on ovarian cancer. The anticancer activities, including anti‐proliferative effects, the induction of apoptosis, and anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions were studied in the human ovarian cancer cell lines SK‐OV‐3 and OVCAR‐3, and natural killer cell line NK‐92. We found that ethanol extract of FWG exhibited significant anti‐proliferative effects against both SK‐OV‐3 and OVCAR‐3 cells and potentiated apoptosis, leading to caspase‐3/7/9 activity and poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. In addition, FWG extract decreased each 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NF‐κB activity in 2 human ovarian cancer cells although FWG itself did not induce ROS production. Notably, FWG extract‐treated NK‐92 cells enhanced the secretion of IFN‐γ and the cytotoxicity of NK cells against OVCAR‐3 cells. Practical applications Fermented wheat germ (FWG) extract has been reported to contain many beneficial effects in association with cancer prevention and is known to be an anti‐cancer nutritional supplement. This study highlights that ethanol extract of FWG with yeast extract inhibits human ovarian cancer cell growth by inducing caspase‐3/7/9‐mediated apoptosis and downregulating ROS‐mediated NF‐κB activation and NK cell activation and that it can be considered a promising prophylactic food for fighting ovarian cancer.