Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells

Preventing muscle wasting in certain chronic diseases including cancer is an ongoing challenge. Studies have shown that polyphenols derived from fruits and vegetables shows promise in reducing muscle loss in cellular and animal models of muscle wasting. We hypothesized that polyphenols derived from plums (Prunus domestica) could have anabolic and anti-catabolic benefits on skeletal muscle. The effects of a polyphenol-enriched plum extract (PE60) were evaluated in vitro on C2C12 and Colon-26 cancer cells. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and we found that treatment of myocytes with plum extract increased the cell size by similar to 3-fold (p < 0.05) and stimulated myoblast differentiation by similar to 2-fold (p < 0.05). Plum extract induced total protein synthesis by similar to 50% (p < 0.05), reduced serum deprivation-induced total protein degradation by similar to similar to 30% (p < 0.05), and increased expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) by similar to 2-fold (p < 0.05). Plum extract also reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced nuclear factor B (NFB) activation by 80% (p < 0.05) in A549/NF-B-luc cells. In addition, plum extract inhibited the growth of Colon-26 cancer cells, and attenuated cytotoxicity in C2C12 myoblasts induced by soluble factors released from Colon-26 cells. In conclusion, our data suggests that plum extract may have pluripotent health benefits on muscle, due to its demonstrated ability to promote myogenesis, stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and inhibit protein degradation. It also appears to protect muscle cell from tumor-induced cytotoxicity.