Antioxidants mammary carcinogenesis

The consumption of a mixture of phenolic compounds presented in apple or purple grape juice inhibited mammary carcinogenesis in 7,12-dimethylbenzo[a]anthracene (DMBA) treated rats (Liu and others 2005 Jung and others 2006). However, the individual antioxidants of these foods studied in clinical trials, including (3-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, do not appear to have consistent preventive effects comparable to the observed health benefits of diets rich in fruits and vegetables, suggesting that natural phytochemicals in fresh fruits and vegetables could be more effective than a dietary supplement. 

Garcia-Solis P, Yahia EM and Aceves C. 2008. Study of the effect of Ataulfo mango (Mangifera indica L) intake on mammary carcinogenesis and antioxidant capacity in plasma of /V-methyl-nitrosourea (MNU)-treated rats. Food Chem 111 309—315. 

Figure 4. Dietary fat and antioxidant influences on DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis.

Many questions in the investigation of a possible mechanism for antioxidant inhibition of mammary carcinogenesis have led us to the need to be able to measure actual tissue concentrations of these compounds. Since BHT was found to be a very effective mammary tumor inhibitor in this model, and BHA to have no measurable effect under the same experimental conditions, one has to ask the question as to whether or not both are absorbed and taken up by the tissues, specifically mammary tissue, since this is the target tissue. BHT was not effective as an inhibitor when fed for three weeks from weaning, then stopped one week prior to carcinogen treatment (35). 

L Abbe MR, Fischer PW, Chavez ER. 1989. Changes in selenium and antioxidant status during DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. J Nutr 119(5) 766-771. 

Administered at 1.25% and 2.5% of the diet of female rats subjected to carcinogen-induced mammary carcinogenesis, asafetida increased activity levels of endogenous antioxidants (glu-tathione-5-transferase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase), inhibited lipid peroxidation, delayed tumor appearance, and reduced the size of tumors. The essential oil showed a relaxant effect on isolated rat ileum. Asafetida has also shown hypotensive activities in animals. It has also been demonstrated to increase blood coagulation time. ... 

Hirose, M., Hoshiya, T., Akagi, K., Futakuchi, M., and Ito, N., Inhibition of mammary gland carcinogenesis by green tea catechins and other naturally occurring antioxidants in female Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with 7,12, dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Cancer Lett., 83,149-... 

Hirose M, Akagi K, Hasegawa R, Yaono M, Satoh T, Kara Y, Wakabayashi K, Ito N (1995) Chemoprevention of 2-ammo-l-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP)-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis by antioxidants in F344 female rats. Carcinogenesis 16 217-221... 

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