Synergistic effect of lycopene and tocopherol against oxidative stress and mammary tumorigenesis induced by 7,12-dimethyl[a]benzanthracene in female rats

Toxicol Ind Health. 2012 Jul;28(6):542-8. doi: 10.1177/0748233711416948. Epub 2011 Oct 27.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most serious problems in oncology. We investigated the antitumor potential of lycopene (Lyco) alone or combined with tocopherol (Lyco + Toco) for 90 days against a single oral dose of (50 mg/kg body weight) 7,12-dimethyl[a]benzanthracene (DMBA)-induced oxidative stress and mammary carcinogenesis in female rats. The treatment protocol started from the day immediately after DMBA administration. Results obtained indicated that there was a significant elevation in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in serum and breast tissues of DMBA-injected rats. The combined treatment (Lyco + Toco) group showed a potential reduction of these parameters more than Lyco alone group. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were found to be significantly higher when compared to rats treated with Lyco alone. In DMBA group, a positive significant correlation between NO and MDA (r = 0.92) was observed. Histopathological examination revealed the formation of tumor and angiogenesis in DMBA-induced rats and these abnormal changes were ameliorated by combined treatment with Lyco + Toco. In conclusion, these results suggested that supplementation of diet with Lyco and Toco provided antioxidant defense, with strong chemopreventive activity against DMBA-induced mammary tumors.

MeSH terms

  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Carotenoids / pharmacology*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Lycopene
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / chemically induced
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / metabolism
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / pathology
  • Nitric Oxide / blood
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Tocopherols / pharmacology*
  • Tocopherols / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Carotenoids
  • Malondialdehyde
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Tocopherols
  • Lycopene