title: Palm oil alleviates 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor promotion response in murine skin.
abstract: Palm oil is a rich source of vitamin E, carotenoids, tocotrienols and tocopherols which are natural antioxidants and act as scavengers of oxygen free radicals. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a known oxidant that promotes tumorigenesis in mouse skin through the elaboration of oxidative stress. In this study we therefore assessed the anti-tumor promoting potential of palm oil against TPA-mediated skin tumorigenesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated Swiss albino mice. Topical application of palm oil 1 h prior to application of TPA resulted in a significant protection against skin tumor promotion. The animals pre-treated with palm oil showed a decrease in both tumor incidence and tumor yield as compared to the TPA (alone)-treated group. Palm oil application also reduced the development of malignant tumors. Since TPA-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation are conventionally used markers of skin tumor promotion, we also assessed the effect of pre-application of palm oil on these parameters, and it was observed that the application of palm oil prior to the application of TPA alleviated both these TPA-induced markers of tumor promotion. The effect of pre-application of palm oil on TPA-mediated depletion in the non-enzymatic and enzymatic molecules was also assessed and it was observed that palm oil application prior to TPA application resulted in the recovery of TPA-mediated depletion in the levels of these molecules viz. glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and catalase. Similarly, palm oil also exhibited a protective effect against Fe(2+)-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in the epidermal microsomes. The results of the present study thus suggest that palm oil possesses anti-skin tumor promoting effects, and that the mechanism of such effects may involve the inhibition of tumor promoter-induced epidermal ODC activity, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and cutaneous oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Hamdard University, 110062, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kausar
authors.forename: Gayatri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhasin
authors.forename: M Afzal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Athar
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate