Chemomodulatory Effect of Trachyspermum ammi on Murine Skin and Forestomach Papillomagenesis

Abstract

Trachyspermum ammi seed consumed worldwide as a spice ingredient is much valued for its medicinal properties. However, it has not been investigated for its cancer chemopreventive efficacy. Herein, the chemopreventive effect of different doses (2%, 4%, and 6%) of test diets of Trachyspermum ammi seeds were examined on DMBA-induced skin and B(a)P-induced forestomach papillomagenesis, inducibility of drug metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes(catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glyoxalase I), reduced glutathione content, and peroxidative damage. Results exhibited a significant reduction in the skin as well as the forestomach tumor multiplicity with respect to all doses of test diet as compared to the control group. Biochemical assays revealed a significant increase in the activities of phase I enzymes especially with 6% test diet. A concomitant increase in the activities of the phase II enzymes and antioxidant enzymes were observed in Trachyspermum ammi treated groups. The content of reduced glutathione was significantly elevated, whereas the peroxidative damage along with lactate dehydrogenase activity exhibited a significant reduction with all the three doses of test diet. These findings were indicative of chemopreventive potential of Trachyspermum ammi seeds against carcinogenesis.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support in the form of Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship to Bimala Singh from CSIR, New Delhi, India, is gratefully acknowledged. We are thankful to Dr. Rana P. Singh for his valuable suggestions during revision of the manuscript.

Notes

^a Abbreviation is as follows: DMBA, 7,12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

^a Abbreviation is as follows: B(a)P, benzo(a)pyrene.

^a Abbreviation is as follows: DMBA, 7,12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. In skin papillomagenesis experiment, values are expressed as mean ± SD of 16–18 animals.

^b P < 0.01; represents significant changes against the control group of animals.

^a Abbreviation is as follows: B(a)P, benzo(a)pyrene. In the forestomach papillomagenesis experiment, values are expressed as mean ± SD of 18–20 animals.

^b P < 0.01; represents significant changes against the control group of animals.

^a Abbreviations are as follows: Cyt P450 R, cytochrome P450 reductase; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; DTD, DT-diaphorase; CAT, catalase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; GR, glutathione reductase; GLY I, glyoxalase I; GSH, reduced glutathione content; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; (1), μ mole of NADPH oxidized/min/mg protein; (2), μ mole of CDNB-GSH conjugate formed/min/mg protein; (3), μ mole of DCPIP reduced/min/mg protein; (4), μ mole H₂O₂ consumed/min/mg protein; (5), specific activity expressed as μ mole/mg protein; (6), nmole of NADPH consumed/min/mg protein; (7), μ mole of s-lactoylglutathione formed/min; (8), nmole GSH/gm/tissue; (9), μ mole/mg protein; (10), nmole malondialdehyde formed/mg protein. Values are expressed as mean ± SD of 6–8 animals. Values in parentheses represent relative change in parameters assessed (i.e., levels of activity in livers of mice receiving test substance to activity in liver of control mice).

^b P < 0.01; represents significant changes against the control group of animals.

^c P < 0.05; represents significant changes against the control group of animals.