title: Protective effects of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus STAPF) essential oil on DNA damage and carcinogenesis in female Balb/C mice.
abstract: This study investigated the protective effect of oral treatment with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus STAPF) essential oil (LGEO) on leukocyte DNA damage induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosurea (MNU). Also, the anticarcinogenic activity of LGEO was investigated in a multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)antracene, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxibuthyl)nitrosamine in Balb/C female Balb/c mice (DDB-initiated mice). In the short-term study, the animals were allocated into three groups: vehicle group (negative control), MNU group (positive control) and LGEO 500 mg kg⁻¹ (five times per week for 5 weeks) plus MNU group (test group). Blood samples were collected to analyze leukocyte DNA damage by comet assay 4 h after each MNU application at the end of weeks 3 and 5. The LGEO 500 mg kg⁻¹ treated group showed significantly lower (P < 0.01) leukocyte DNA damage than its respective positive group exposed to MNU alone at week 3. In the medium-term study, DDB-initiated mice were allocated into three groups: vehicle group (positive control) and LGEO 125 or 500 mg kg⁻¹ (five times per week for 6 weeks; test groups). At week 20, all animals were euthanized and mammary glands, colon and urinary bladder were processed for histopathological analyses for detection of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. A slight non-significant effect of treatment with LGEO 500 mg kg⁻¹ in reducing development of alveolar and ductal mammary hyperplasia was found (P = 0.075). Our findings indicate that lemongrass essential oil provided protective action against MNU-induced DNA damage and a potential anticarcinogenic activity against mammary carcinogenesis in DDB-initiated female Balb/C mice.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Morfologia, 18618-970, Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Patologia 18618-970, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Bidinotto
authors.forename: Celso A R A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Daisy M F
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: Mirtes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Maria A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Luís F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Barbisan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; C052901:lemongrass oil; D008770:Methylnitrosourea