• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.76-82
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• 2004

Pine needles are known as a traditional medicine and their ingestion has been shown to be beneficial to human beings. Following induction of the neoplastic process in rats by azoxymethane (AOM), we determined the effects of pine needle supplementation on colon carcinogenesis and on antioxidant systems in the blood and liver. Five week old male Fisher 344 rats were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) once a week for two weeks. After the second injection, 18 rats were randomly assigned into two groups and were fed a casein-based high-fat diet (120 g fat and 1 g cholesterol/kg diet) with or without pine needle powder (10%w/w). After 6 weeks, rats receiving pine needle powder showed a 40% lower incidence of the number of colonic preneoplastic lesions (aberrant crypts) and a 52% lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci (p<0.01). A significantly elevated level of erythrocyte catalase activity was observed in the pine needle supplemented group (17.4$\pm$1.1 vs. 24.5$\pm$1.5, p<0.01). Pine needle supplementation also increased liver glutathione peroxidase activity (7.5$\pm$0.6 vs. 14.6$\pm$0.6, p<0.01). Other antioxidant parameters such as erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, liver catalase activity, and plasma total antioxidant potential (TRAP), showed no statistical differences between the two groups. Our data demonstrate that pine needle supplementation improves the antioxidant system and suppresses the formation of colonic preneoplastic lesions in AOM-treated rats. This result provides additional insights into the chemo-preventative properties of pine needles.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.381-385
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• 2010

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), one of naturally occurring main components in cauliflower vegetables, is supposed to have a chemopreventive potential in experimental animals and humans. This study was investigated to examine chemopreventive effect of I3C on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) using C57BL/6J mice. Mice were divided into three groups (10 or 9 mice/group). All mice were subcutaneously injected with AOM (5 mg/kg body weight, four times at weekly interval). After AOM treatment, animals of group 1 were fed by AIN-76A pellets as a basal diet. Animals of groups 2 and 3 were given I3C containing diets (100 and 300 ppm in diets, respectively) for 6 weeks until sacrifice. All mice were sacrificed at week 10 and the aberrant crypt foci (ACF) of the colonic mucosa were assessed after staining with methylene blue. Total numbers of ACF/colon in group 2 ($10.1{\pm}5.1$) or group 3 ($10.6{\pm}5.3$) were decreased compared to the values of group 1 ($14.4{\pm}10.2$). Among numbers of ACF formation, 5, 7, 8 and 10 ACF in group 2 and 3 were greatly different those of group 1. Total numbers of aberrant crypts (AC)/colon of group 2 ($20.1{\pm}10.1$) or group 3 ($22.0{\pm}10.9$) were decreased compared to the value of group 1 ($33.7{\pm}24.7$). Taken together, it suggests that I3C treatment may retard mouse colon carcinogenesis even after administration of AOM.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.337-345
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• 2008

There are accumulating evidences that high levels of dietary iron may play a role in colon carcinogenesis. Elevated iron status has been associated with oxidative stress. Phytic acid (PA) functions as an antioxidant by chelating divalent cations and prevents formation of reactive oxygen species responsible for cell injury and carcinogenesis. The protective effect of PA was investigated on formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in iron-overloaded male F344 rats. After acclimation with AIN-93G purified diet (35 ppm Fe, normal control diet) for one week, animals were fed iron-overloaded diet (350 ppm Fe) and PA (0.5% or 2% PA in water) for 8 weeks. Animals received two (1st and 2nd week) injections of AOM (15 mg/kg b.w.) to induce colonic ACF. The colonic mucosa was examined for the total numbers of aberrant crypt (AC) and ACF after staining with methylene blue. The blood and serum were analyzed with a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. Iron-overloaded diet increased the concentration of iron in liver of the rats. But iron-related parameters in blood were not changed among experimental groups. The numbers of ACF per colon and AC per colon were $178.8{\pm}33.2$ and $448.4{\pm}110.2$ in the iron-overloaded F344 rats. The total AC was significantly increased, compared with normal-diet AOM control group (p < 0.05). The treatments of PA at the dose of 0.5% slightly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon to $153.6{\pm}29.5$ and $396.3{\pm}107.5$. However, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of ACF and AC between the AOM control group and PA (0.5% or 2%)-treated groups. These results suggest that PA may not affect the formation of ACF or AC induced by AOM in ironoverloaded F344 rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.39-49
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• 2012

We investigated the effect of zinc on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice with high iron diet (HFe; 450 ppm iron). Sixweek old ICR mice were fed on high iron diets with combination of three different levels of zinc in diets, low-zinc (LZn; 0.01 ppm), medium-zinc (MZn; 0.1 ppm), and high-zinc (HZn; 1 ppm) for 12 weeks. Animals were received weekly intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg B.W. in saline) for 3 weeks followed by 2% DSS (molecular weight 36,000~50,000) in the drinking water for a week. To confirm the iron storage in the body, the hepatic iron concentration has been determine chemically and compared with histological assessment visualized by Prussian blue reaction. Aberrant crypt (AC) and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were analyzed in the colonic mucosa of mouse fed high dietary iron. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level were also investigated. Apoptosis in the preneoplastic lesion was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL). In addition, immunohistochemistry of ${\beta}$-catenin was also performed on the mucous membrane of colon. The number of large ACF (${\geq}4$ AC/ACF), which possess greater tumorigenic potential, was significantly lower in MZn and HZn groups compared with LZn group. Cytosolic SOD activity in the liver was significantly higher in HZn group compared with LZn group. Hepatic MDA level was decreased significantly in HZn group compared with MZn and LZn groups. Apoptotic index was significantly higher in HZn group. Taken together, these findings indicate that dietary zinc might exert a protective effect against colonic preneoplastic lesion induced by AOM/DSS in ICR mice with high iron status, and suggest that dietary supplement of zinc might play a role in suppressing colon carcinogenesis in mice.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2000

Epidemiological and experimental studies provide evidences that diet and intestinal microflora play an important role in colon carcinogenesis. In recent years, it has been suggested that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used to ferment dairy products have an inhibitory effect on the colon cancer. This study was designed to determine the effect of Bifidobacterium longum HY8001 (Bif) and Lactobacillus acidophilus HY2104(Lac) of Korean origin on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions such as aberrant crypt foci(ACF) formation and cecal pH. At five weeks of age, Spraque-Dawley rats were divided at random into four (AOM alone, Bif, ,Lac, and Bif+Lac) groups. Animals were weighed weekly and oral administration of LAB cultures were performed daily until the termination of the study. Two weeks later, all animals were given a subcutaneous injection of AOM dissolved in normal saline at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight once per week for 2 weeks. All rats were necropsied 7 weeks after the last AOM injection , and the ACF were visualize under light microscopy in the formalin-fixed, unsectioned methylene blue-stained colons. The total number of aberrant crypt in Bif, Lac, and Bif+Lac groups were significantly lower than that of the AOM alone group and the percentage of inhibitions weas 35.0, 45.6%, respectively. Significant inhibition (p<0.001) in the total number of ACF was also observed in LAB treated groups (Bif , Lac, and Bif+Lac group by 3003, 38.6, and 41.2%, respectively). Furthermore, cecal pH appeared to significantly decrease by LAB administration. The results of present study provide some evidences for potential colon tumor-inhibitory properties of lactic cultures and fermented dairy products.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권17호
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• pp.7561-7566
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• 2015

Ziziphus jujuba (ZJ) fruit is rich in bioactive functional components such as polysaccharides, triterpenoid acid, flavonoids and oleamide. It has been commonly used in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, digestive disorders, diarrhea, skin infections, liver and urinary diseases. However, its dietary effect on chemoprevention of colon cancer has never been studied. The present study was to evaluate the protective effects of dietary ZJ on colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)-dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-treated mice. AOM was injected (10 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) and three cycles of 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days with 14 days of normal drinking water in-between was administered to induce colitis-associated colon cancer. ZJ fruit was supplemented in feed as 5 and 10%. Dietary ZJ significantly attenuated aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation thereby decreasing the progression of hyperplasia to dysplasia. In addition, it significantly reduced circulating white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and platelets compared to colon cancer mice. We conclude that ZJ supplementation delayed the progression of colon cancer from hyperplasia to dysplasia and ultimately adenocarcinoma and cancer. In addition, it decreased circulating tumor-related leucocytes, main regulators of cancer inflammation. Therefore, dietary consumption of ZJ fruit attenuated the formation of ACF and delayed the progression of colon cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2827-2832
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• 2015

Oxidative stress is associated with colon carcinogenesis including aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation and it plays an important role in pathophysiological changes in cancer cells. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary unpolished Thai rice (UTR) on ACF formation and dysplastic progression in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated rats. Anti-cancer efficacy of UTR regarding apoptotic induction and oxidative redox status in human colon cancer (CaCo-2) cells was also investigated. Rats given 20% and 70% of UTR in the diet showed significantly and dose-dependently decreased total number of ACF. UTR treatment also was strongly associated with the low percentage of dysplastic progression and mucin depletion. In addition, we found that UTR significantly induced cancer cell apoptosis, increased cellular oxidants, and decreased the level of GSH/GSSG ratio in CaCo-2 cells. Our study suggests that UTR supplementation may be a useful strategy for CRC prevention with the inhibition of precancerous progression, with induction of cancer cell apoptosis through redox alteration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5031-5035
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• 2013

Zizyphus spina-christi (ZSC) fruit is a rich source of bioactive compounds but any medicinal properties in chemoprevention of colon cancer have hitherto not been studied. The aim of the present study was to examine in vivo protective effects of ZSC water extract on colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated rats. Our results showed that ZSC significantly reduced AOM-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci development and AOM-induced oxidative stress as indicated by restoration of endogenous glutathione depletion and abrogating the impairment of total antioxidant capacity. Caspase-3 cleavage, which has been considered as an apoptotic index, was almost undetectable in AOM-treated rats and ZSC exhibited pro-apoptotic effects evidenced by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. In the studied model, our findings provide the first in vivo evidence that ZSC extract could inhibit the early stage of colon carcinogenesis by preventing oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

We investigated the combinatorial effects of different doses of dietary soy isoflavones (SI) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in a rat model of colon cancer. We hypothesized that increased bioavailability of SI metabolites due to dietary FOS may increase production of bioactive equol and affect colon carcinogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with 12-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and were providec experimental diets that contained 0, 10, 50, 150, or 500 mg SI per kg of diet and 6% FOS for 12 weeks. The number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colonic tissues were significantly decreased in the 6% FOS-fed groups compared to the control group. Gut transit time and fecal pH were significantly lower, and fecal concentrations of bifidobacteria were increased with 6% FOS. However, dietary SI supplementation in combination with 6% dietary FOS did not affect ACF formation or COX-2 expression. Plasma equol concentrations were dose-dependently increased by supplementation of SI up to 500 mg/kg of diet. In conclusion, SI supplementation up to 500 mg/kg of diet appeared to have no additive beneficial effects in rats with chemically-induced colon cancer that were fed 6% FOS, although plasma equol was dose-dependently increased.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.942-947
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• 2006

The effect of oat bran extracts on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) was studied in F344 male rats. Extracts were prepared using various combinations of temperature (40, 45, 50, 55, or 60$^{\circ}C:\;X_1$), ethanol concentration (0,5, 10, 15, or 20%: $X_2$), and pH (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9: $X_3$). Among the various extracts tested, one ethanol extract (EE; $45^{\circ}C$, 15% ethanol at pH 6) and one water extract (WE; $50^{\circ}C$ at pH 5) were selected based on their in vitro antitumor activity. The animals were fed with basal diet alone or basal diet supplemented with 0.25 or 0.5% of EE or WE for 6 weeks. During the initial 2 weeks of the 6-week test period, the rats were subcutaneously injected with DMH (30 mg/kg) 4 times for the induction of ACF. DMH induced an average of 322.7 and 142.9 aberrant crypts (AC) and ACF, respectively. A low dose (0.25%) of EE (containing 38.3% ${\beta}$-glucan) and WE (containing 22.8% ${\beta}$-glucan) greatly reduced the numbers of DMH-induced AC and ACF. Significantly, ACF consisting of more than 3 AC were reduced by half in which the effect of EE, containing a higher concentration of ${\beta}$-glucan, was superior to that of WE. These results demonstrate that oat bran extracts may confer protection against colon carcinogenesis.