Anti-Cell Proliferative Efficacy of Ferulic Acid Against 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) Anthracene Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

The present study was designed to explore the anti-cell proliferative efficacy of ferulic acid by analysing theexpression pattern of cell proliferative markers, proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1,in the buccal mucosa of golden Syrian hamsters treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Oralsquamous cell carcinomas developed in the buccal pouch of hamsters using topical application of 0.5% DMBAthree times a week for 14 weeks. Immunohistochemical (PCNA) and RT-PCR (Cyclin D1) analysis revealed overexpression of PCNA and cyclin D1 in the buccal mucosa of hamsters treated with DMBA alone (tumor bearinghamsters). Oral administration of ferulic acid at a dose of 40 mg/kg bw to hamsters treated with DMBA not onlycompletely prevented the tumor formation but also down regulated the expression of PCNA and cyclin D1. Theresults of the present study thus suggests that ferulic acid might have inhibited tumor formation in the buccalmucosa of hamsters treated with DMBA through its anti-cell proliferative potential as evidenced by decreasedexpression of PCNA and cyclin D1.