Zapotin prevents mouse skin tumorigenesis during the stages of initiation and promotion.
BACKGROUND
Zapotin, a flavonoid associated with Casimiroa edulis, was isolated as part of a program to discover natural inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Zapote blanco, the fruit of Casimiroa edulis, is consumed in many parts of the world. Zapotin is a non-toxic inducer of cellular differentiation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest with cultured HL-60 promyelocytic cells.


METHODS
An efficient chemical synthesis for zapotin was devised. Using this synthetic material, activity was examined in the two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model.


RESULTS
Topical zapotin significantly inhibited 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced mouse skin tumorigenesis, using the anti-initiation and anti-promotion protocols.


CONCLUSIONS
Encouraging results from previous and current in vivo studies warrant further investigation of the chemopreventive activity of zapotin.
Cuendet
Muriel
M
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Oteham
Carol P
CP
Maiti
Arup
A
Craig
Bruce A
BA
Cushman
Mark
M
Moon
Richard C
RC
Pezzuto
John M
JM
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D047309:Flavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D047309:Flavones; C517807:zapotin; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate