Chemomodulatory action of Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) on skin and forestomach papillomagenesis, enzymes associated with xenobiotic metabolism and antioxidant status in murine model system

Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Dec;46(12):3842-50. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.10.008. Epub 2008 Oct 14.

Abstract

The chemopreventive effect of different doses of test diet of Foeniculum vulgare Mill (Fennel) seeds was examined on DMBA-induced skin and B(a)P-induced forestomach papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Fennel seeds exhibiting a significant reduction in the skin and the forestomach tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity as compared to the control group. Further, biochemical assays showed a significant increase in the content/activities of phase I enzymes especially in the case of 6% test diet. A concomitant increase in the activities of the phase II enzymes were observed with all the doses of test diet under study. A significant enhancement in the activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed especially at 4% and 6% test diets of Fennel. Glyoxalase I activity and the content of reduced glutathione were significantly elevated. Expectedly, the levels of peroxidative damage along with lactate dehydrogenase activity, exhibited a significant reduction at all three doses of test diets. These findings were indicative of chemopreventive potential of Fennel against carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / antagonists & inhibitors
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Body Weight
  • Carcinogens / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Cytosol / drug effects
  • Cytosol / enzymology
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Foeniculum / chemistry*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Mice
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Papilloma / chemically induced
  • Papilloma / pathology
  • Papilloma / prevention & control*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Xenobiotics / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Carcinogens
  • Plant Extracts
  • Xenobiotics
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase