Pigmented corn as a gluten-free source of polyphenols with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in CaCo-2 cells

A high number of varieties from corn (Zea mays L.) have been consumed for long time all over the world, however pigmented varieties are recently gaining renewed attention due to their beneficial effects and polyphenolic content. The natural lack of gluten makes corn suitable for consumption by celiac population, who need to control their inflammatory state through an appropriate gluten-free diet. The biological effects of polyphenols from pigmented corn are poorly investigated in the context of celiac disease. In this work, we analyzed through HPLC-DAD the phenolic composition of two Italian purple and red varieties (“Scagliolo Rosso” and “Rostrato di Rovetta”, respectively) comparing their effects in human intestinal epithelial cells (CaCo-2 cells). The possible impact of gastro-intestinal digestion following oral consumption was assessed as well. The phenolic profile showed the presence of phenolic acids in both varieties, while anthocyanins were identified in Scagliolo Rosso only. After simulated digestion, the level of polyphenols did not significantly change and paralleled with an increased scavenging activity. In CaCo-2 cells, stimulated by a proinflammatory cocktail containing gliadin-derived peptides (IL-1β, IFN-γ, digested gliadin), pigmented corn extracts inhibited the release of CXCL-10 and sICAM-1, with mechanisms partially ascribed to NF-κB impairment. At the same concentration (200 μg/mL), ROS production and catalase depletion were reverted through Nrf-2-independent mechanisms. Our data suggest that polyphenols from pigmented corns might help in controlling the inflammatory and oxidative state of people with celiac disease at intestinal level, at concentrations potentially achievable through a gluten-free diet.