Antioxidative and modifying effects of a tropical plant Azadirachta indica (Neem) on azoxymethane-induced preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon.
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2006-07-25
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Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) has short-term chemopreventive effects on endpoint preneoplastic lesions involved in rat colon carcinogenesis and might also exert antioxidative activity. Forty- two male F344 rats were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups. Groups 1 to 4 were given a subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane (AOM, 20 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks. Starting one week before the first injection of AOM, rats in groups 2 to 4 received an aqueous extract of Neem leaf (20, 100, and 250 mg/kg, respectively) by gavage 3 times per week, for 5 weeks. Rats in group 5 also were given the Neem extract by gavage feeding 3 times per week for 5 weeks, while group 6 served as untreated controls. The experiment was terminated 5 weeks after the start. Dietary feeding of the Neem extract at all dose levels significantly inhibited the induction of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) (P<0.0002), when compared to the AOM-treated group (group 1). In groups 2 to 4, treatment of rats with the Neem extract also significantly decreased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indices (P<0.0006) of colon epithelium and ACF. Moreover, the Neem extract also showed antioxidative activity. The finding that dietary Neem has possible chemopreventive effects in the present short-term colon carcinogenesis bioassay suggests that longer-term exposure may cause suppression of tumor development.
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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.
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Arakaki J, Suzui M, Morioka T, Kinjo T, Kaneshiro T, Inamine M, Sunagawa N, Nishimaki T, Yoshimi N. Antioxidative and modifying effects of a tropical plant Azadirachta indica (Neem) on azoxymethane-induced preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2006 Jul-Sep; 7(3): 467-71