Impact of black sorghum derived phenolic rich extracts on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory gene expression in vascular endothelial cells

Oxidative stress is one of the primary factors leading to endothelial dysfunction, a major underlying cause for vascular disorders. This study aims to understand the key signalling pathways regulated by sorghum (Shawaya short black 1 variety; characterised to be very high in its antioxidant activity) under oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein
endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pre‐treated with non‐cytotoxic concentrations of phenolic‐rich black sorghum extract (BSE) prior to induction of oxidative stress using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Treatment with BSE upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and downregulated the levels of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4). BSE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro‐inflammatory mediators
such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP1) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM1). Results from this study suggest that phenolic‐rich BSE may assist in the reduction of oxidative stress by regulating pro and antioxidant signalling pathways and expression of inflammatory mediators linked to endothelial dysfunction under oxidative stress.