title: Saffron reduction of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.
abstract: Our aim was to investigate the chemopreventive potential of saffron in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Assessment was by monitoring the percentage of tumor bearing hamsters, tumor size as well as the status of detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants. Oral squamous cell carcinomas were induced in the buccal pouch of Syrian golden hamsters by painting them with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. We observed 100% oral tumor formation with severe histopathological abnormalities in all the hamsters treated with DMBA alone, activities of phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants being significantly altered. Though oral administration of saffron completely prevented the formation of tumors, we noticed severe hyperplasia and dysplasia in hamsters treated with DMBA, suggesting that tumors might eventually develop. Oral administration of saffron return detoxification enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants to normal ranges. The chemopreventive potential of saffron thus is likely due to antioxidant properties and modulating effects on detoxification in favour of the excretion of carcinogenic metabolites during DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India. rasmanshisak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.forename: Shamsul Afaq
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.forename: Krishnamoorthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
authors.forename: Asokan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manimaran
authors.forename: Murugaraj Manoj
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Sekar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
authors.forename: Duraisamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention; D006224:Cricetinae; D027622:Crocus; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene