7>12-Dimethylbenz aJanthracene

Levin W, Conney AH. 1967. Stimulatory effect of polycyclic hydrocarbons and aromatic azo derivatives on the metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[ajanthracene. Cancer Res 27 1931-38... 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) contains flavonoids, phenols, volatile oil and terpenoids. Topical application of rosemary extract, carnosol or ursolic acid to mouse skin inhibited the covalent binding of benzo[a]pyrene to epidermal DNA (Huang et al. 1994), tumour initiation by 7,12-dimethylbenz [ajanthracene (Singletary and Nelshoppen 1991), 12-0-tetradecano)dphorbol-13-acetate-induc-ed tumour promotion, ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) activity and inflammation. Carnosol showed potent antioxidative activity in a,a-diphe-nyl-P-picrylhydrazyl free radicals scavenge and DNA protection from Fenton reaction (Lo et al. 2002). 

Hirose, N, Doi, F, Ueki, T, Akazawa, K, Chijiiwa, K, Sugano, M, Akimato, K, Shimizu, S and Yamada, H (1992) Suppresion effect of sesamin against 7,12-dimethylbenz-[ajanthracene induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Anticancer Res., 12, 1259-1266. 

Anthracene and Related Compounds. The formation of anthracene by elimination of hydride from 9,10-dihydroanthracene has been reported in the preceding section. An improved high-yield synthesis of 7,12-dimethylbenz-[ajanthracene (336), a compound of biological interest, utilizes the reaction of 7,12-benz[a]anthraquinone with MeLi. Subsequent reaction with dry HCl in ethyl acetate produces 7-(chloromethyl)-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene, reduction of which gives (336). 

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