Anti-tumor and Immunostimulatory Functions of Two Feruloyl Oligosaccharides Produced from Wheat Bran and Fermented by Aureobasidium pullulans

Feruloyl oligosaccharide 1 (FO1) and feruloyl oligosaccharide 2 (FO2) were produced from wheat bran fermented by Aureobasidium pullulans (A. pullulans) through oneand two-stage temperature and pH controlling processes, respectively. Here the anti-tumor and immunostimulatory functions of FO1 and FO2 were further examined. Both FO1 and FO2 inhibited the growth of cancer cells but were non-toxic to normal cells in vitro. In S180 tumor-bearing mice, both FO1 and FO2 significantly inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors and promoted thymus, spleen indexes, interferon-γ, and interleukin-3 production. They also increased peripheral leukocyte count and bone-marrow cellularity. The biological activity of FOs prepared by different processes was further determined. Interestingly, FO2 possessed more potent anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effect than FO1 in a dose-dependent manner. At a dose of 250 mg/kg, the tumor inhibition rates for FO1 and FO2 were 22.42% and 44.85%, respectively. These antitumor properties of FOs may be mediated by their beneficial effects on immunity responses. These data suggest that FOs from wheat bran may be used as antitumor agents in the future.