Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid suppress preneoplastic lesions induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rat colon.
Ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds found in plants used in the human diet and in medicinal herbs, in the form of aglycones or as the free acid. These compounds are known for their hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antifertility activities. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of UA and OA on the formation of 1,2-dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon of the male Wistar rat. The animals received subcutaneous (sc) injections of DMH (40 mg/kg body weight) twice a week for two weeks to induce ACF. UA, OA and a mixture of UA and OA were administered to the rats five times a week for four weeks by gavage at doses of 25 mg/kg body weight/day each, during and after DMH treatment. All animals were sacrificed in week 5 for the evaluation of ACF. The results showed a significant reduction in the frequency of ACF in the group treated with the triterpenoid compounds plus DMH when compared to those treated with DMH alone, suggesting that UA and OA suppress the formation of ACF and have a protective effect against colon carcinogenesis.
Furtado
Ricardo A
RA
Universidade de Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 201 Parque Universitário, Franca-SP, Brazil.
Rodrigues
Erlon P
EP
Araújo
Felipe R R
FR
Oliveira
Wendel L
WL
Furtado
Michelle A
MA
Castro
Márcio B
MB
Cunha
Wilson R
WR
Tavares
Denise C
DC
D019813:1,2-Dimethylhydrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D035322:Melastomataceae / Q000737:chemistry; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
D019813:1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid