Chemopreventive effects of Paullinia cupana Mart var. sorbilis, the guaraná, on mouse hepatocarcinogenesis

Cancer Lett. 2006 Feb 20;233(1):158-64. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.03.007.

Abstract

Guaraná (Paullinia cupana) is originally from Amazon, Brazil. Its effects on mouse hepatocarcinogenesis have been investigated in this study. Mice were treated with N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN), received three different doses of P. cupana added to commercial food, and euthanized after 25 weeks. Gross lesions were quantified, and preneoplastic lesions (PNL) were histologically measured. Cellular proliferation was evaluated by immunobloting for the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The incidence and multiplicity of macroscopic lesions were reduced. The PNL number and PCNA expression were reduced in the highest P. cupana dose. According to these results, guaraná presented inhibitory effects on DEN hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caffeine / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Paullinia*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Precancerous Conditions / prevention & control
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / analysis

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
  • Caffeine