Protective Effects of [6]-Paradol on Histological Lesions and Immunohistochemical Gene Expression in DMBA Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Background: The search for naturally occurring agents in routinely consumed foods that may inhibit cancerdevelopment is of high priority. [6]-Paradol is a pungent phenolic bioactive component from ginger with welldocumentedhealth promoting antioxidant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties.However, anticarcinogenic effects have yet to be fully explored. The objectives of the present study were thereforeto assess protective effects against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced buccal pouch carcinogenesisin male golden Syrian hamsters.
Methods: Oral squamous cell carcinomas developed in the left buccal pouch ofhamsters on painting with 0.5% of DMBA, three times in a week. To assess the apoptotic associated gene expressingpotential of [6]-paradol, it was orally administered to DMBA treated hamsters on alternate days from DMBApainting for 14 weeks.
Results: We observed 100% tumor formation with marked levels of neoplastic changesand altered the expression of apoptotic associated gene (p53, bcl-2, caspase-3 and TNF-α) was observed in theDMBA alone painted hamsters as compared to control hamsters. Oral administration of [6]-paradol at a doseof 30 mg/kg b.wt to DMBA treated animals on alternative days for 14 weeks significantly reduced the neoplasticchanges and improved the status of apoptosis associated gene expression.
Conclusion: These observationsconfirmed that [6]-paradol acts as a tumor suppressing agent against DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis. Wealso conclude that [6]-paradol also effectively enhances apoptosis- associated gene expression in DMBA treatedanimals.