Effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum mak on carcinomatous conversions of golden hamster cheek pouches induced by dimethylbenzanthracene: a histological study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum mak (GP) on carcinomatous conversions of leukoplasia of the golden hamster cheek pouch induced by dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA).


METHODS
284 golden hamsters, ranging from 4 to 8 weeks of age, 80 to 100 grams in weight were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and experimental groups. Control group (8 hamsters) were sacrificed at week 0 and week 12 for control. Model group (123 hamsters) were pasted in bilateral cheek pouches with 0.5% DMBA, 3 times a week for establishment of experimental leukoplasia, and sacrificed at week 2 to week 9 (12-22 hamsters were sacrificed a week). Experimental group (153 hamsters) were divided into three subgroups. Subgroup A underwent simultaneous DMBA pasting and oral taking of GP, and were sacrificed at week 6 and week 9. Subgroup B underwent oral taking of GP for 12 weeks after completion of DMBA pasting. Subgroup C underwent DMBA pasting after completion of oral taking of GP for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
The earliest epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma in situ occurred at week 3 and week 6 after DMBA pasting. There were significant differences between subgroup B and model group for 3 weeks' administration of DMBA (P < 0.05), and between subgroup C and model group (P < 0.01), while there was no difference between subgroup B and model group for 6 week's administration of DMBA (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
GP could inhibit and reverse the carcinomatous conversions of leukoplasia of golden hamster cheek pouches, indicating its positive anticarcinogenic effect.
Zhou
Z
Z
School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Wang
Y
Y
Zhou
Y
Y
Zhang
S
S
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002273:Carcinogens; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002610:Cheek; D006224:Cricetinae; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011897:Random Allocation
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002273:Carcinogens; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene