Chemopreventive Effects of Resveratrol and Curcumin on Melanoma Growth in C57BL/6 Mice

Ul Islam, Salman; Al Saidi, Abdullah; Akbar, Shehla; Akhlaq, Amina; Shehzad, Adeeb; Ul- Islam, Mazhar

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.10.3671

Chemopreventive Effects of Resveratrol and Curcumin on Melanoma Growth in C57BL/6 Mice

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Pharmacy, International Institute of Science, Arts, and Technology (IISAT), Gujranwala 52250, Punjab, Pakistan.

² Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Salalah, Oman.

³ Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Hayatabad, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan.

⁴ Biodiversity Unit, Research Center, Dhofar University, Salalah 211, Oman.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.10.3671

Abstract

This study investigates the chemopreventive potential of two phytochemicals, resveratrol (RV) and curcumin (CUR), in a C57BL/6 mouse model of melanoma. Utilizing a xenograft approach, we implanted B16F10 cells subcutaneously into mice and treated them with RV and CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection. Our findings reveal that both compounds significantly inhibit tumor growth, as evidenced by reduced tumor volumes and enhanced apoptotic markers. Western blot analyses revealed activation of the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway, as indicated by increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins such as cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, alongside reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in the RV- and CUR-treated groups. Furthermore, both compounds modulated key signaling pathways associated with apoptosis, suggesting their role in enhancing programmed cell death in melanoma cells. Histopathological examination confirmed reduced tumor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in treated tissues. Additionally, the treatments influenced oxidative stress markers, indicating a potential role in redox balance regulation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of RV and CUR in skin cancer prevention and treatment. Given their efficacy in suppressing melanoma progression, further studies are warranted to elucidate their precise molecular mechanisms and evaluate their clinical applicability in combination with standard melanoma therapies.

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