No abstract

We evaluated the chemopreventive properties of Ginsenoside Rp1 on 7,12-Dimethyl benz (a) anthracene (DMBA) skin papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice. A significant reduction in values of tumor incidence, tumor burden, and cumulative number of papilloma was observed in mice treated orally with Ginsenoside Rp1 continuously at pre-, peri- and post-initiational stages of papillomagenesis as compared to the control group. Chemopreventive potential of Ginsenoside Rp1 was also observed on the skin metabolizing enzymes in Swiss albino mice. Ginsenoside Rp1 produced a significant elevation in the skin microsomal cytochrome p-450 and cytochrome b5, glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels in the group of mice treated with Ginsenoside Rp1 for seven consecutive days. However, there was significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level in Ginsenoside Rp1 treated group.

The dynamic multiline population breeding strategy integrates principles from the gene stacking and multiline approaches and allows application of the multiline strategy to cross-pollinated hybrid crops. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the breeding approach. Backcross derivatives of pearl millet Tift 23DB were developed with rust resistance from 18 Burkina Faso landraces, 3 Pennisetum glaucum subsp. monodii accessions, and 2 elite inbreds (1 from India and 1 from the United States). Four cycles of open pollination were made, the last two in the field in rust epidemics. Cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) counterparts of the populations in the A(4) cytoplasm were included and advanced simultaneously with the B population. Hybrids with Tift 383 were produced on CMS cycles 1 (C1) through C4. Frequency of hybrid seedlings with resistance increased with each cycle, and frequencies averaged 18 to 38% in C1 to C4 hybrids, respectively, when inoculated with five single-uredinium isolates of Puccinia substriata var. indica. The hybrid populations and Tifleaf (TL)1 and TL2 were evaluated in three yield trials in 1998 to 1999. Disease-free forage dry matter yields did not differ among hybrids. Across trials, area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of TL1 and TL2 averaged 1,307, C1 and C2 averaged 914, and C3 and C4 averaged 604. Final severities of TL1 and TL2 averaged 67%, C1 and C2 averaged 47%, and C3 and C4 averaged 30%. When analyzed by regression analysis, AUDPC was reduced 12.2%, final rust severity was reduced 13.3%, and digestible biomass was increased 4.1% per cycle.

In the present investigation the chemopreventive action and antimutagenic effects of a standardized Panax Ginseng extract (EFLA400, processed Panax ginseng extract containing a high titre of ginsenoside Rg3 (>3.0% w/w) known as Phoenix ginseng) in Swiss albino mice have been evaluated. The oral administration of EFLA400 at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg body weight at pre, peri and post-initiational phases, showed significant reductions in the number, size and weight of the papillomas. A significant reduction in tumour incidence (71.41 +/- 6.73%, 72.19 +/- 4.54% and 70.46 +/- 0.38% at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively) was observed in animals in the EFLA400 treated group compared with 100% tumour incidence in the control group. The cumulative number of papillomas during an observation period of 16 weeks was significantly reduced in the EFLA400 treated group (24 +/- 0.94, 16 +/- 1.41 and 11 +/- 1.41 at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively). However, the average latent period was significantly increased from 10.81 +/- 0.1 weeks in the control group to 12.39 +/- 0.28 weeks in the treated group (10 mg/kg body weight). The average tumour weight was recorded as 128.55 +/- 8.48, 116.00 +/- 8.48 and 57.5 +/- 3.29 mg in 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg body weight EFLA400 treated groups respectively. Chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei induction was also evaluated in bone marrow cells. These genotoxicity end-points were compared with papilloma occurrence at the same dose levels of carcinogen and ginseng. In the EFLA400 treated groups significantly reduced frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei induced by DMBA and croton oil were observed. However, the maximum decrease in the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei were recorded in the 10 mg/kg body weight EFLA400 treated group than that of the 1 and 3 mg/kg body weight EFLA400 treated animals. The results from the present study suggest the dose dependent effectiveness of EFLA400 in chemoprevention and antimutagenicity in Swiss albino mice.

The chemopreventive and antimutagenic effects of an aqueous extract of Mentha piperita leaves were evaluated by using 9 week medium term model of benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced lung tumors. Lung tumors were induced by a single subcutaneous injection in the scapular region with BP in newborn Swiss albino mice (<24 h old). The oral administration of Mentha extract (ME) showed a significant reduction in the number of lung tumors from an incidence of 67.92% in animals given only BP to 26.31%. The inhibition rate was 61.26% in ME treated group with respect to reference group (BP-alone). However, tumor multiplicity was reduced from 0.83 in the BP-alone group to 0.31 in the BP+ME group. Also, ME treatment reduced the frequency of BP-induced chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in bone marrow cells and decreased the levels of lipoperoxides and increased sulfhydryl groups in liver as well as lung. In cell-free assays, ME showed strong scavenging activity for both the DPPH* and ABTS*+ radicals. ME had an IC50 value of 272 microg/ml in the DPPH* assay. The chemopreventive action and antimutagenic effects observed in the present study is attributed to the antioxidative and radical scavenging properties of ME.