Chenopodium quinoa Willd. inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and slows down gastric precancerous lesions via TGF-β/Smad pathway

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the cytokine, protein expression and pathway alterations of quinoa water extract (QWE) in precancerous lesions of gastric carcinoma (PLGC), and to provide new insights into the targets and mechanisms related to quinoa inhibition of PLGC. Design/methodology/approach In this study, we used drinking N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), eating disorders and intragastric administration of 40% ethanol to establish a rat PLGC model, and detected the gastric mucosal state, serum PGI and PGII levels and TGF-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and p-Smad2/3 protein levels in the gastric tissue of rats after administration of QWE. At the same time, we used MNNG to induce GES-1 cells into MC cells, and detected the cell activity, migration ability and TGF-β1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and p-Smad2/3 protein levels of the cells after administration of QWE. Findings The results demonstrated that QWE could protect the tissue structure of gastric mucosa from damage; inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of MC cells, promote their apoptosis and inhibit the occurrence of epithelial mesenchymal transformation by regulating the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway. Originality/value In this study, it is clear that cereal quinoa has a protective effect on people with inflammatory diseases in the stomach from the perspective of dietary prevention, and provides a dietary supplement to prevent PLGC.