title: Morin augments anticarcinogenic and antiproliferative efficacy against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene induced experimental mammary carcinogenesis.
abstract: In general, oxidative stress resulting from an imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant systems plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer. Morin (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone), a member of the flavanol group, has been shown to possess chemopreventive potential against hepatocellular and colon cancer in experimental animals. Given the demonstrated importance of morin, aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of morin on antiproliferative and anticarcinogenic effect against DMBA-induced experimental mammary carcinogenesis. Oral administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene (25 mg/kg body weight) to rats resulted in significant reduction of body weight, enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), and nonenzymic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E). The levels of lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides) and tumor markers such as CA 15-3, AFP and CEA in serum were increased significantly in cancer-induced animals as compared to control rats. Oral supplementation of morin at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight significantly improved the body weight, enzymic, and nonenzymic antioxidants and considerably decreased the lipid peroxidation marker and tumor markers levels. Histological observations also correlated with the biochemical parameters. Tumor bearing animals showed marked increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and also the number of AgNOR/nuclei compared with control rats while this expression levels were significantly reduced upon morin treatment. Thus, this study reveals the possible beneficial effect of morin as chemopreventive agent against the oxidative stress induced during mammary carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600025 Tamil Nadu, India. nandhakumarphd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ramadass
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nandhakumar
authors.forename: Kombiyil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salini
authors.forename: Sivasithambaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niranjali Devaraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D047309:Flavones
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes; D005419:Flavonoids; C046810:7,12-dihydroxymethylbenz(a)anthracene; C008548:morin; D047309:Flavones