Riceberry has recently been acknowledged for its beneficial pharmacological effects. Riceberry bran oil (RBBO) exhibited anti-proliferation activity in various cancer cell lines. However, animal studies of RBBO on anti-carcinogenicity and its molecular inhibitory mechanism have been limited. This study purposed to investigate the chemopreventive effects of RBBO on the carcinogen-induced liver and colorectal carcinogenesis in rats. Rats were injected with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and further orally administered with RBBO equivalent to 100 mg/kg body weight of γ-oryzanol 5 days/week for 10 weeks. RBBO administration suppressed preneoplastic lesions including hepatic glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci and colorectal aberrant crypt foci. Accordingly, RBBO induced hepatocellular and colorectal cell apoptosis and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Interestingly, RBBO effectively promoted the alteration of gut microbiota in DEN- and DMH-induced rats, as has been shown in the elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. This outcome was consistent with an increase in butyrate in the feces of carcinogen-induced rats. The increase in butyrate reflects the chemopreventive properties of RBBO through the mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory properties and cell apoptosis induction in preneoplastic cells. This would indicate that RBBO containing γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, and tocols holds significant potential in the prevention of cancer.

Rice bran oil (RBO) comprises various nutrients and phytochemicals which exhibit several health benefits. There are no studies regarding the functional effects of different colours of RBO. This study was aimed to compare the constituents and antioxidant activities of white rice bran oil (WRBO) and coloured rice bran oil (CRBO). Each RBO showed similar free fatty acid profiles. However, greater amounts of vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were found in CRBO, which had lower γ‐oryzanol content than WRBO. Oxidative stress was induced in male mice by an overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) at 300 mg/kg body weight. The mice were then fed with RBO at the equivalent dose to 100 mg/kg body weight of γ‐oryzanol three hours later and sacrificed six hours after APAP treatment. The administration of 100 mg γ‐oryzanol equivalent in CRBO ameliorated APAP‐induced hepatotoxicity in mice more strongly than 100 mg γ‐oryzanol equivalent in WRBO, as evidenced by the significant reduction of serum ALT, hepatocellular necrosis, and hepatic lipid peroxidation. CRBO could improve xenobiotic‐metabolizing and antioxidant enzyme activities, including glutathione S‐transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and also increase mRNA expression of various antioxidant‐responsive genes. Vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll might be the protective compounds in CRBO that alleviate APAP‐induced hepatotoxicity through the interruption of APAP metabolism and the activation of antioxidant systems at both transcriptional and enzymatic levels. These findings might provide a protective role of CRBO on oxidative stress associated with several degenerative diseases.

Humans are frequently exposed to various carcinogens capable of inducing cancer in multiple organs. Phyllanthus emblica (P. emblica) is known for its strong antioxidant properties and potential in cancer prevention. However, its effectiveness against combined carcinogens remains relatively unexplored. This study aimed to assess the chemopreventive potential of the ethanolic extract of P. emblica fruits against preneoplastic lesions in the liver and colon using a rat model. Rats were administered with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) to induce hepato- and colon carcinogenesis, respectively. The ethanolic extract of P. emblica fruit at 100 and 500 mg/kg bw significantly reduced the number of preneoplastic lesions in the liver by 74.7% and 55.6%, respectively, and in the colon by 39.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Similarly, the extract decreased the size of preneoplastic lesions in the liver by 75.2% (100 mg/kg bw) and 70.6% (500 mg/kg bw). Furthermore, the extract significantly reduced the cell proliferation marker in the liver by 70.3% (100 mg/kg bw) and 61.54% (500 mg/kg bw), and in the colon by 62.7% (100 mg/kg bw) and 60.5% (500 mg/kg bw). The ethanolic extract also enhanced liver antioxidant enzyme activities and demonstrated free radical scavenging in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Additionally, the dichloromethane fraction of P. emblica showed significant cancer prevention potential by reducing intracellular ROS and NO production by 61.7% and 35.4%, respectively, in RAW 264.7 macrophages. It also exhibited antimutagenic effects with a reduction of 54.0% against aflatoxin B1 and 52.3% against 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-induced mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium. Finally, this study highlights the chemopreventive activity of P. emblica fruit extract against the initiation of early-stage carcinogenic lesions in the liver and colon in rats treated with dual carcinogens.

Purple rice has gained attention for its health promoting potential due to a high content of bioactive phytochemicals. The heat generated during cooking alters the quality and quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals in food. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and chemopreventive properties of cooked glutinous purple rice using cell-based assays and a rat model. Purple rice was cooked in a rice cooker and was then further extracted with solvents to obtain dichloromethane and methanol extracts. The methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice contained great amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Protocatechuic acid (2.26–5.40 mg/g extract) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (34.3–65.7 mg/g extract) were the major phenolic acid and anthocyanin contents, respectively. After cooking, the content of anthocyanins, γ-oryzanols, and phytosterols decreased, while the amount of some phenolic acid and tocol contents increased. Methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice inhibited reactive oxygen species production about 60% in PMA-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reduced nitric oxide formation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (26–39% inhibition), and exhibited antimutagenicity against several mutagens using the Ames test, but dichloromethane extracts presented only mild anti-inflammatory activities. Although methanol extracts induced mild mutagenicity (mutagenic index 2.0–2.5), they did not induce micronucleated hepatocyte formation and certain hepatic CYP450 isozyme activities in rats. However, the mutagenicity of the methanol extract significantly declined after cooking. In summary, the methanol extract of the cooked glutinous purple rice might be a promising cancer chemopreventive fraction, which was neither genotoxic nor posing adverse effects on phytochemical–drug interaction in rats.

Asian genomic datasets possess unparalleled potential to advance global understanding of human genetic diversity. Encompassing the world’s largest population pool with diverse ethnicities, these datasets capture comprehensive genomic variations shaped by heterogeneous socioeconomic conditions, climate exposures, and clinical environments. However, current national genome initiatives across Asia demonstrate substantial disunity, stemming from limited cross-border communication and collaborative infrastructure, thereby diminishing their collective impact on biomedical research and precision medicine development. The MedHackathon Asia 2025 catalyzed crucial dialogues toward establishing a regional community dedicated to three pillars: harmonized biobank collaboration, standardized genomic data protocols, and cooperative governance frameworks. This multidisciplinary convening brought together researchers, clinicians, bioinformaticians, and national precision medicine program leaders from across Asia to share best practices, identify implementation challenges, and formulate foundational strategies for sustained cooperation. This community review synthesizes critical outcomes from these deliberations, emphasizing the imperative for continuous regional collaboration while advocating for the development of sustainable architectures enabling: (1) equitable biobank resource sharing, (2) genomic data standardization, and (3) ethical governance models. Through consolidation and expansion of this emerging network, Asian nations are expected to lead transformative contributions to global genomic science while ensuring appropriate representation in biomedical innovation. Such coordinated efforts promise to accelerate healthcare advancements with equitable benefits extending throughout the region and worldwide.

Background: Rice bran proteins and their hydrolysates exhibit anticancer activity. Our previous study demonstrated that Riceberry glutelin and its hydrolysates possessed potent in vitro antioxidant and antimutagenic properties. However, their cancer chemopreventive effects in animals remain unclear. Methods: This study investigated chemopreventive mechanisms in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)- and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced preneoplastic lesions, including glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci in the liver and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon of rats. Rats received GTL, GTLH, and total protein hydrolysate (TPH) at 500 mg/kg body weight, five days per week for ten weeks. Results: GTLH significantly reduced GST-P-positive foci in the liver and ACF in the colon, while GTL decreased GST-P-positive foci only in the liver. However, TPH did not affect preneoplastic lesions in both the liver and the colon. GTLH suppressed cell proliferation by reducing proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells and promoted apoptosis, as indicated by an increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in both organs. GTL also decreased PCNA-positive cells in the liver and colon. Moreover, GTLH significantly upregulated BAX and CASP3 in the liver, while only BAX in the colon was observed. Conclusions: This study highlighted the cancer chemopreventive potential of Riceberry GTLH with its underlying mechanism to reduce the number of preneoplastic lesions in the liver and colon through cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction. These findings suggested that this protein hydrolysate might be used as a functional food ingredient or dietary supplement for cancer prevention.