Chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in DMBA-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Melastoma malabathricum L. Smith (family Melastomaceae) is a shrub that has been used by the Malay practitioners of traditional medicine to treat various types of ailments. The present study aimed to determine the chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of M. malabathricum leaves (MEMM) using the standard 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)/croton oil-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis model.


METHODS
In the initiation phase, the mice received a single dose of 100µl/100 µg DMBA (group I-V) or 100µl acetone (group VI) topically on the dorsal shaved skin area followed by the promotion phase involving treatment with the respective test solutions (100 µl of acetone, 10 mg/kg curcumin or MEMM (30, 100 and 300mg/kg)) for 30 min followed by the topical application of tumour promoter (100µl croton oil). Tumors were examined weekly and the experiment lasted for 15 weeks.


RESULTS
MEMM and curcumin significantly (p<0.05) reduced the tumour burden, tumour incidence and tumour volume, which were further supported by the histopathological findings.


CONCLUSIONS
MEMM demonstrated chemoprevention possibly via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and the action of flavonoids like quercitrin.
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Ooi Kah
OK
Kooi
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Cheah Yee
CY
Ling
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Roihanah
R
Rodzi
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Fezah
F
Othman
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Norhafizah
N
Mohtarrudin
Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Kota, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 KualaTerengganu, Malaysia.
Zarizal
Z
Suhaili
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ; Halal Product Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Zainul Amiruddin
ZA
Zakaria
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003436:Croton Oil; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D035322:Melastomataceae; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D003436:Croton Oil; D003474:Curcumin
Melastomaceae; anti-carcinogenic activity; skin cancer