title: Berberine prevents 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis:  a biochemical approach.
abstract: Chemoprevention, a novel and useful approach in experimental oncology, deals with the prevention, suppression, or inhibition of carcinogenesis using natural or synthetic entities. This study evaluated the chemopreventive potential of berberine on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was developed in the buccal pouch of golden Syrian hamsters by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. Tumor incidence, tumor volume, tumor burden, phase I and phase II carcinogen detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, and histopathological changes were assessed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone and in DMBA+berberine-treated animals. Hundred percent tumor incidences with an imbalance in carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes and cellular redox status were observed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Oral administration of berberine at a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight (bw) to DMBA-treated hamsters completely prevented tumor incidence and restored the status of the above-mentioned biochemical markers. Berberine, a traditional drug from Southeast Asia, shows promising chemopreventive efficacy in hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India. rasmanshisak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.forename: Ganapathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.forename: Veerasamy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vinothkumar
authors.forename: Raju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kowsalya
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002273:Carcinogens; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D006224:Cricetinae; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008954:Models, Biological; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002273:Carcinogens; D001599:Berberine; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene