Polyphenol-rich foods have been shown to be good for cancer prevention as powerful antioxidants. In this study, the mechanisms of wild pink bayberry free phenolic extract (WPBFE) inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptotic of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was examined. The main phenolic acids and flavonols in WPBFE were gallic acid ((18.83 ± 0.44) μg/g FW) and myricetin ((1.52 ± 0.05) μg/g FW), respectively. The maximum inhibition rate of WPBFE at non-cytotoxicity dose (below 80 mg/mL) was 81%. Western blotting analysis showed that WPBFE could cause the arrest of cell cycle in G0/G1 phase by down-regulating expression levels of PCNA, CDK4, cyclin D1 and up-regulating the expression level of p21. Meanwhile, WPBFE induced apoptosis through initiating the mitochondrial death pathway by up-regulating cleaved caspase-3 and enhancing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, with the maximum expression levels of 1.29 and 2.03 folds that of control group, respectively. Further study of the upstream protein, we found that WPBFE down-regulated TRAF2, while upregulated p-ASK1, p-p38 and p-p53. Furthermore, WPBFE could down-regulate the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt. These observations indicated that WPBFE might play an anticancer role through regulating the p38 MAPK together with PI3K/Akt pathway.

Whole grain has a wide range of phytochemicals exhibiting health benefits of lowering risk of chronic diseases. As commonly consumed grain product, corn has unique profiles of nutrients and phytochemicals when compared with other whole grains. Corn nutrients and phytochemicals include vitamins (A, B, E, and K), minerals (Mg, P, and K), phenolic acids (ferulic acid, coumaric acid, and syringic acid), carotenoids and flavonoids (anthocyanins), and dietary fiber. More and more scientific evidences have shown that regular consumption of whole grain corn lowers the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity and improves digestive health. Further studies on bioactive compounds of corn related to health are needed.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women in the United States. A growing emphasis is being placed on alternative medicine and dietary approaches toward prevention of potential diseases. Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in foods that, when acting in synergy, bestow potential anti-cancer properties. Resveratrol, a phytoalexin, and ursolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, are two bioactive compounds that are at the forefront in scientific research. Previous animal studies have documented the anti-cancer properties of resveratrol on breast cancer cells and research groups have recently been able to identify the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and induction of apoptosis properties of resveratrol along with the signal transduction pathways that the compound affects. Ursolic acid has been cast into the limelight with the recent discovery documenting its anti-inflammation and anti-cancer activities by targeting signal pathways, especially in the prevention of breast cancer.