Apigenin prevents deregulation in the expression pattern of cell-proliferative, apoptotic, inflammatory and angiogenic markers during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

Malignant tumour arises due to abnormal cell proliferation, chronic inflammation, defect in apoptotic pathway and unwanted angiogenesis. The present study has investigated the modulating effect of apigenin on expression pattern of apoptotic (p53, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and 9) cell proliferative (PCNA, Cyclin D1, c-fos), angiogenic (VEGF) and inflammatory (NFκB, COX-2) markers during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

METHODS

Oral squamous cell carcinoma was developed in the buccal pouches of golden Syrian hamsters by painting with 0.5% DMBA three times a week for 14 weeks. Deregulation in the expression of the cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation and angiogenesis markers was noticed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone.

RESULTS

Oral administration of apigenin at a dose of 2.5mg/kgbw prevented the deregulation of the above mentioned molecular markers in hamsters treated with DMBA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results thus suggest that apigenin exhibited anti-cell proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and apoptotic potential during DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.