Reference SummaryMahmoud NN, Carcinogenesis 2000 May;21(5):921-7

Title

Plant phenolics decrease intestinal tumors in an animal model of familial adenomatous polyposis.

Authors

Mahmoud NN; Carothers AM; Grunberger D; Bilinski RT; Churchill MR; Martucci C; Newmark HL; Bertagnolli MM

Journal

Carcinogenesis

Volume

Issue

Year

2000

Pages

921-7

Abstract

Epidemiological studies consistently indicate that consumption of fruits and vegetables lowers cancer risk in humans and suggest that certain dietary constituents may be effective in preventing colon cancer. Plant-derived phenolic compounds manifest many beneficial effects and can potentially inhibit several stages of carcinogenesis in vivo. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of several plant-derived phenolics, including caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), curcumin, quercetin and rutin, for the prevention of tumors in C57BL/6J-Min/+ (Min/+) mice. These animals bear a germline mutation in the Apc gene and spontaneously develop numerous intestinal adenomas by 15 weeks of age. At a dietary level of 0.15%, CAPE decreased tumor formation in Min/+ mice by 63%. Curcumin induced a similar tumor inhibition. Quercetin and rutin, however, both failed to alter tumor formation at dietary levels of 2%. Examination of intestinal tissue from the treated animals showed that tumor prevention by CAPE and curcumin was associated with increased enterocyte apoptosis and proliferation. CAPE and curcumin also decreased expression of the oncoprotein beta-catenin in the enterocytes of the Min/+ mouse, an observation previously associated with an antitumor effect. These data place the plant phenolics CAPE and curcumin among a growing list of anti-inflammatory agents that suppress Apc-associated intestinal carcinogenesis.

Links

J:61979 – MGI References
10783313 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Strain Notes

Strain	Note
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	These mice were from The Jackson Laboratory.

Models
Strain	Model Name	Treatment Agent(s)	Organ Affected	Frequency
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	Intestine adenoma		Intestine	very high
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	Intestine adenoma	caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)	Intestine	very high
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	Intestine adenoma	curcumin	Intestine	very high
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	Intestine adenoma	quercetin	Intestine	very high
C57BL/6J-Apc^Min/+	Intestine adenoma	rutin	Intestine	very high
C57BL/6J	Intestine tumor		Intestine	0