• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.277-287
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• 2002

The chemopreventive effects of ginseng on rat carcinogenesis models were investigated, In the present study, the inhibitory effects of white and red ginseng on tumor development were examined using medium-term liver, initiation and medium-term multi-organ carcinogenicity bioassay systems. No modifying potential of the ginsengs was evident in terms of the numbers or areas of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST -P)-positive foci, which is a marker of preneoplastic lesion in rat livers. However, white ginseng, but not red ginseng was found to decrease the incidences of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine and colon in the medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis model. These results indicate that white ginseng may have inhibitory effects on progression stage of rat intestinal carcinogenesis, but the influence is not strong. Ginseng is unlikely to have promoting or inhibitory effects in other organs under the present type of experimental conditions. Possible application on ginseng for chemoprevention of colon cancer in humans, can be concluded given the lack of obvious adverse effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1827-1831
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• 2015

Background: We generated a mouse model of prostate cancer based on the adult-prostate-specific inactivation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) using the Cre-loxP system. The potential of our mice as a useful animal model was examined by evaluating the chemopreventive efficacy of the anti-androgen, chlormadinone acetate (CMA). Materials and Methods: Six-week-old mice were treated subcutaneously with $50{\mu}g/g$ of CMA three times a week for 9 or 14 weeks and sacrificed at weeks 15 and 20. Macroscopic change of the entire genitourinary tract (GUT) and histologically evident prostate gland tumor development were evaluated. Proliferation and apoptosis status in the prostate were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: CMA triggered significant shrinkage of not only the GUT but also prostate glands at 15 weeks compared to the control (p=0.017 and p=0.010, respectively), and the trend became more marked after a further five-weeks of treatment. The onset of prostate adenocarcinoma was not prevented but the proliferation of cancer cells was inhibited by CMA, which suggested the androgen axis is critical for cancer growth in these mice. Conclusions: Conditional PTEN-deficient mice are useful as a preclinical model for chemoprevention studies and serve as a valuable tool for the future screening of potential chemopreventive agents.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.355-360
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• 2005

Epidemiological and laboratory studies provide insight into the anti-carcinogenic potential of garlic and its constituent compounds. Garlic is appealing as an anti-carcinogenic agent due to its ability to induce apoptosis in vitro. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is one of the major components of garlic that used to determine inhibition of cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human colon cell lines. In this study, human colorectal cancer cell lines (LOVO, HCT-116, SW-480) were exposed to DADS. The inhibitory effects of DADS dose level more than $50\;{\mu}M$ in the cell viability of all cell lines. Cell growth activity inhibits of human colon cancer cell lines. The inhibitory effects of DADS dose level more than $25\~50\;{\mu}M$ in the cell growth using MTT assay. We found that DADS may have the apoptosis action (chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation) using DAPI staining and increased the expression of caspase-3 at the dose level more than $100\;{\mu}M$, decreased the expression level of $\beta-catenin$ at dose dependent in the western blotting. We suggest that DADS may have a potential candidate as cancer chemopreventive agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5855-5860
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• 2013

Phytochemicals are among the natural chemopreventive agents with most potential for delaying, blocking or reversing the initiation and promotional events of carcinogenesis. They therefore offer cancer treatment strategies to reduce cancer related death. One such promising chemopreventive agent which has attracted considerable attention is sulforaphane (SFN), which exhibits anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-microbial properties. The present study was undertaken to assess effect of SFN alone and in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine, on the proliferative potential of MCF-7 cells by cell viability assay and authenticated the results by nuclear morphological examination. Further we analyzed the modulation of expression of Bcl-2 and COX-2 on treatment of these cells with SFN by RT-PCR. SFN showed cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner via an apoptotic mode of cell death. In addition, a combinational treatment of SFN and gemcitabine on MCF-7 cells resulted in growth inhibition in a synergistic manner with a combination index (CI)<1. Notably, SFN was found to significantly downregulate the expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic gene, and COX-2, a gene involved in inflammation, in a time-dependent manner. These results indicate that SFN induces apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects on MCF-7 cells via downregulation of Bcl-2 and COX-2 respectively. The combination of SFN and gemcitabine may potentiate the efficacy of gemcitabine and minimize the toxicity to normal cells. Taken together, SFN may be a potent anti-cancer agent for breast cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.951-957
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• 2013

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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.580-592
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• 2020

Background: Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng (thereafter called ginseng) has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years to maintain people's physical vitality and is also a non-organ-specific cancer preventive and therapeutic traditional medicine in several epidemiologic and preclinical studies. Owing to few toxic side effects and strong enhancement on body immunity, ginseng has admirable application potential and value in cancer chemoprevention. The study aims at investigating the chemopreventive effects of ginseng on cutaneous carcinoma and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The mouse skin cancer model was induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for identifying various ginsenosides, the main active ingredients of ginseng. Comprehensive approaches (including network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental verification) were used to explore the potential targets of ginseng. Results: Ginseng treatment inhibited cutaneous carcinoma in terms of initiation and promotion. The content of Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd ginsenosides was the highest in both mouse blood and skin tissues. Ginseng and its active components well maintained the redox homeostasis and modulated the immune response in the model. Specifically, ginseng treatment inhibited the initiation of skin cancer by enhancing T-cell-mediated immune response through upregulating HSP27 expression and inhibited the promotion of skin cancer by maintaining cellular redox homeostasis through promoting nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Conclusion: According to the study results, ginseng can be potentially used for cutaneous carcinoma as a chemopreventive agent by enhancing cell-mediated immunity and maintaining redox homeostasis with multiple components, targets, and links.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2013

Although tongcao has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects, there is no report of the chemopreventive effect of tongcao in cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of methanol extract of tongcao (MET) and its molecular target in HEp-2 human cervical cancer cells using MTS assay, western blot analysis, and DAPI staining. MET significantly decreases cell viability and induces apoptotic cell death. It affects Bid protein to be truncated resulting in the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol whereas it did not affect other Bcl-2 family members. Thus, we clearly suggest that tongcao can be a potential naturally occurring plants having chemopreventive activity in cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2679-2683
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• 2015

Background: Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), the most comprehensively studied aromatic isothiocyanate, has been shown to act as an anti-cancer agent mainly through modulation of biotransformation enzymes responsible for metabolizing carcinogens in the human body. Humans are often exposed to carcinogenic factors, some of which through the diet, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene via the consumption of over-cooked meats. Inhibition of the enzymes responsible for the bioactivation of this carcinogen, for example CYP1A1, the major enzyme required for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bioactivation, is recognized as a chemoprevention strategy. Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of PEITC against benzo[a]pyrene-induced rise in rat liver CYP1A1 mRNA and apoprotein levels. Materials and Methods: Precision cut rat liver slices were treated with benzo[a]pyrene at 1 and $5{\mu}M$ in the presence of PEITC ($1-25{\mu}M$) for 24 hours, followed by determination of CYP1A1 mRNA and apoprotein levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Results: Findings revealed that PEITC inhibited benzo[a]pyrene-induced rise in rat liver CYP1A1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner as well as the apoprotein levels of CYP1A. Conclusions: It was demonstrated that PEITC can directly inhibit the bioactivation of benzo[a]pyrene, indicating chemopreventive potential.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1115-1118
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• 2012

Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a flavoring compound derived from garlic, is considered to have cancer chemopreventive potential in experimental animals and humans. This study was designated to examine possible chemopreventive effects of DAS on colon carcinogenesis using genetically engineered transgenic $Apc^{Min/+}$ mice, a well-established animal model for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and sporadic colorectal cancer. Male C57BL/6J-$Apc^{Min/+}$ mice were divided into three groups. Animals of group 1 were placed on the basal diet (AIN-76A) as non-treated controls. Animals of groups 2 and 3 were given DAS-containing diets (in doses of 100 and 300 ppm, respectively). All mice were sacrificed at the end of week 10 of the experiment. Histopathological investigation revealed that the incidence of colonic polyps was decreased dose-dependently by 19% (13/16) in group 2 and by 32% (13/20) in group 3 compared to the 100% incidence (10/10) in group 1. The multiplicity of colonic polyps per mouse was also slightly decreased by DAS treatment ($1.88{\pm}0.35$ in group 2 and $1.63{\pm}0.36$ in group 3) compared to $2.00{\pm}0.39$ in group 1. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the numbers of total polyps per mouse in the small intestine between the groups. Taken together, we suggest that DAS may exert promising inhibitory effects on colon carcinogenesis in the transgenic $Apc^{Min/+}$ mice.