Evaluation of chemopreventive efficacy of citral in 7,12- ISSN: 2231-010X Research Article dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

Abstract

Present study evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy of citral in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in- duced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis by monitoring tumor incidence and analyzing the status of lipid pe- roxidation by-products antioxidants, and phase I and phase II detoxification agents. Oral tumor was developed in the hamster buccal pouches by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin thrice weekly for 14 weeks. We ob- served 100% tumor formation in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. The status of phase I and II detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation by-products and antioxidants were markedly altered in tumor bearing animals. Oral ad- ministration of citral (100 mg/kg bw) to DMBA treated hamsters completely prevented the tumor formation as well as brought back the status of lipid peroxidation by-products, antioxidants and phase I and II detoxification agents to near normal range. Our results thus suggest that citral has significant chemopreventive potential, which is probably due to its modulating effect on the activities of phase I and II detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation by-products and antioxidants.