Investigating potential chemopreventive effect of polyphenols rich-pomegranate juice on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-induced carcinogenesis

Microbes can lead to tumor formation and also can biotransform/bioactivate procarcinogens e.g. benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) that are formed from reaction between certain sugars and an amino acid (asparagine) in processed food under cooking methods such as frying, baking, broiling, or roasting. Thus, the main goal of this project is to examine the role of human gut microbiota upon exposure to the potentially chemopreventive pomegranate juice and the procacinogen BaP. Obtaining a detailed description of the procarcinogen's gut microbiota mediated biotransformation and ideally its function can be a key to understand how these organisms regulate and bioprocess many of these food procarcinogens.