title: Crocetin downregulates the proinflammatory cytokines in methylcholanthrene-induced rodent tumor model and inhibits COX-2 expression in cervical cancer cells.
abstract: The effect of crocetin (C20H24O4) on methylcholanthrene- (MCA-) induced uterine cervical cancer in mice was studied in this paper. After the mice were treated orally with crocetin, maleic dialdehyde (MDA), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were examined by ELISA or immunohistochemistry. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activation in HeLa cells was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy for light microscopic examination. The MCA mice showed a significant increase in plasma MDA, PMN, IL-1β, TNF-α, and nitrates levels. At the same time, the mRNA level of COX-2 in HeLa cells was also significantly increased. These changes were attenuated by crocetin supplementation in the MCA mice. Crocetin supplementation in the MCA mice also showed protection against cervical cancer. These results suggest that crocetin may act as a chemopreventive and an anti-inflammatory agent.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Air Force General Hospital, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Air Force General Hospital, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Zhao-Hui
authors: ZH
authors: Hou
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Air Force General Hospital, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Air Force General Hospital, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Chun-Dong
authors: CD
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: C508585:IL1B protein, human; C587672:IL1B protein, mouse; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human