Chemoprevention of skin cancer by the flavonoid fraction of Saraca asoka

Abstract

Saraca asoka (Family - Caesalpiniaceae) has been widely used in the Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) system of medicine especially due to its wound healing property. The present study investigated the chemopreventive property of flavonoids from the flowers of Saraca asoka on 7,12 dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin cancer in mice models. A single topical application of DMBA (100 microg/50 microL of acetone) followed after 2 weeks by three times a week treatment with croton oil (1% in acetone), for 20 weeks resulted in tumor induction. The topical application of the flavonoid fraction of S. asoka (FF S. asoka), 30 min prior to the application of croton oil thrice weekly for 20 weeks, caused a significant reduction in the number of tumors per mouse and the percentage of tumor-bearing mice. Also the latency period for the appearance of the first tumor was delayed by S. asoka pretreatment. In the flavonoid fraction (5 mg and 10 mg/kg body weight) treated animals, the levels of biochemical markers - rhodanese, myeloperoxidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, sialic acid, hexokinase and caspase 3 were significantly restored to near normal levels. These findings suggest the chemopreventive activity of flavonoids from S. asoka on two stage skin carcinogenesis. Histological data also support the chemopreventive potential of S. asoka.

CZE/PAD and HPLC-UV/PAD Profile of Flavonoids from Maytenus aquifolium and Maytenus ilicifolia “espinheira santa” Leaves Extracts

“…Many flavonoids found in plants have biological and pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and antiallergic action [4][5][6][7]. The antioxidant property of these substances has also been established and correlated to their protective effects on cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer [8][9][10].…”

Ethnobotanical and Socioeconomic Importance of Saraca indica L. (Sita Ashoka):Agra DIstrict

“…The Flowers have shown encouraging anti-ulcer activity in albino rats 5 . Saracin, a lectin purified from Saraca indica seed integument, has been found to agglutinate human lymphocytes and erythrocytes irrespective of the blood group in human it causes agglutination of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)3 cells as well as animal erythrocytes 7 .…”

Histopathological evaluation of tumor necrosis and volume after cyanogenic chemotherapy

“…A feature present in neoplastic cells is the residual activity of rhodanese 15 , due to a deficiency of sulfur sulfane, this fact makes the transport and biosynthesis of compounds from this group do not occur satisfactorily in such cells. This suggests that the uncontrolled proliferation of neoplastic cells is a result of deficiency of this element, and that the active form of sulfur promote inhibition of proliferation in normal cells 16 .…”