# Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Oral Supplementation Mitigates Multi-Organic Dysfunction Associated with Carcinogenesis in HPV16-Transgenic Mice

**Authors:** Paula A. Oliveira, Latifa Hajri, Armando V. Pinto Moreno, Carlos E. Dias Santos, Haissa O. Brito, Margarida M. S. M. Bastos, Rui Medeiros, Soumaya Ghodbane, Mohamed Ammari, Rui M. Gil da Costa, Ana I. Faustino-Rocha

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/cimb47100858 · 2025-10-17

## TL;DR

This study shows that millet supplementation improves health in mice with HPV-related cancer, reducing inflammation and organ damage.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that Pennisetum glaucum oral supplementation mitigates multi-organic dysfunction in HPV16-transgenic mice.

## Key findings

- Millet supplementation improved health status and reduced serum glucose in HPV16-transgenic mice.
- The treatment enhanced antioxidant responses and reduced severity of HPV-induced lesions.
- Pennisetum glaucum was safe and well-tolerated in both wildtype and transgenic mice.

## Abstract

Cancers induced by human papillomavirus are often associated with systemic inflammation and cachexia. This study aimed to determine the interference of Pennisetum glaucum oral supplementation over multi-organic dysfunction in HPV16-transgenic mice. The experimental groups included (1) wildtype (WT) mice with standard diet, (2) WT mice with 36% Pennisetum, (3) transgenic mice with standard diet, (4) transgenic mice with 29% Pennisetum, and (5) transgenic mice with 36% Pennisetum. During the 4-week experimental protocol, body weight, food and water intake, and humane endpoints were recorded. At sacrifice, blood and tissue samples were collected for analysis. Oral supplementation with millet was shown to be safe and well tolerated by both WT and transgenic mice, with no adverse effects on behavior, food or water intake, or general animal welfare. In HPV16-transgenic animals, millet supplementation was associated with an improved health status, reduced serum glucose levels, enhanced antioxidant responses, and a notable reduction in the severity of HPV-induced skin and organ lesions. Overall, Pennisetum glaucum was safe under these experimental conditions and is a promising functional food for patients suffering from systemic paraneoplastic syndromes. Longer exposure periods and doses should be evaluated experimentally before proceeding to clinical trials of Pennisetum-containing diets.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (taxon 10090)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** paraneoplastic syndromes (MESH:D010257), skin and organ lesions (MESH:D012871), Multi-Organic Dysfunction (MESH:D009102), Carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), cachexia (MESH:D002100), Cancers (MESH:D009369), inflammation (MESH:D007249)
- **Chemicals:** glucose (MESH:D005947), water (MESH:D014867)
- **Species:** Human papillomavirus 16 (serotype) [taxon 333760], Human papillomavirus (species) [taxon 10566], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Cenchrus americanus (bulrush millet, species) [taxon 4543]

## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12563015/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12563015