title: Chemopreventive activity of Ocimum sanctum seed oil.
abstract: The seed oil of Ocimum sanctum was evaluated for chemopreventive activity against subcutaneously injected 20-methylcholanthrene induced-fibrosarcoma tumors in the thigh region of Swiss albino mice. Supplementation of maximal tolerated dose (100 microl/kg body weight) of the oil significantly reduced 20-methylcholanthrene induced tumor incidence and tumor volume. The enhanced survival rate and delay in tumor incidence was observed in seed oil supplemented mice. Liver enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione) and lipid peroxidation end product, malondialdehyde levels were significantly modulated with oil treatment as compared to untreated 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The results of this study suggest that the potential chemopreventive activity of the oil is partly attributable to its antioxidant properties. The chemopreventive efficacy of 100 microl/kg seed oil was comparable to that of 80 mg/kg of vitamin E.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002273:Carcinogens; D010938:Plant Oils; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; C080118:ocimum oil; D005978:Glutathione