Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis in modulating 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin tumorigenesis in mice.

The chemopreventive potential of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on 7,12-dimethlybenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) initiated and croton oil promoted mouse skin tumorigenesis was assessed. The modulatory effects of R. officinalis was monitored on the basis of the average latency period, tumor incidence, tumor burden, tumor yield, tumor weight and diameter as well as lipid peroxidation and glutathione level. The results indicate that R. officinalis leaves extract could prolong the latency period of tumor occurrence, decrease the tumor incidence, tumor burden and tumor yield. The average weight and diameter of tumors recorded were comparatively lower in the rosemary extract treated mouse groups. The level of lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced in blood serum and liver. Furthermore, depleted levels of glutathione were restored in RE-administered animal groups. Thus, at a dose rate of 500 mg/kg body wt/mouse, the oral administration of rosemary extract was found to be significantly protective against two-stage skin tumorigenesis.

Modulatory influence of Rosemarinus officinalis on DMBA-induced mouse skin tumorigenesis.

The present investigation was undertaken to explore the anti-tumor promoting activity of Rosemarinus officinalis on two-stage skin carcinogenesis, induced by a single topical application of 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and promoted by treatment of croton oil for 15 weeks in Swiss albino mice. Oral administration of Rosemary leaf extract at a dose of 1,000 mg/ kg b. wt. / day at pre, peri and post-initiational phases, was found to be effective in decreasing the tumor incidence (50, 41.7, 58.3%, respectively) in comparison to the control (100%). Furthermore, the cumulative number of papillomas, tumor yield and tumor burden were also found to be reduced in R. officinalis-treated animals. This was associated with significant alteration in liver lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) levels.

Radioprotective potential of Rosemarinus officinalis against lethal effects of gamma radiation : a preliminary study.

The radioprotective effect of Rosemarinus officinalis extract (ROE) was studied in mice exposed to 8 Gy of gamma radiation. The optimum dose for radioprotection was determined by administering 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/kg body weight of ROE orally once daily, consecutively for five days before irradiation. Treatment of mice with ROE, delayed the onset of mortality and reduced the symptoms of radiation sickness when compared with the non-drug-treated irradiated controls. The dose of ROE found to be most effective against radiation was 1000 mg/kg body weight because this dose increased the survival time and reduced the mortality rate of mice significantly. Body weight loss in ROE administered irradiated animals was significantly less in comparison with animals who were given radiation treatment alone. Furthermore, irradiation of animals resulted in an elevation in lipid peroxidation (LPx) and a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) in blood and liver. Conversely, administration of animals with ROE before irradiation caused a significant decline in LPx accompanied by a significant increase in GSH concentration. The present study demonstrates that Rosemarinus officinalis leave extract is a good radioprotector.

Prevention of radiation induced hematological alterations by medicinal plant Rosmarinus officinalis, in mice.

The modulatory influence of Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaves extract was investigated in Swiss albino mice at a dose of 3 Gy gamma radiation. For this purpose, adult Swiss albino mice were irradiated with 3 Gy gamma rays in the presence (experimental) or absence (control) of rosemary (1000 mg/kg body wt.). These animals were necropsied and their blood was collected at days 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 post-irradiation. A decrease in the number of erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, hemoglobin content and hematocrit percentage was scored in the control group; whereas a recovery pattern was recorded in experimental animals and a normal value of hematological parameters were regained by day 30 post-treatment. In irradiated group, glutathione level was registered low in the blood, whereas a significant elevation was estimated in rosemary pre-treated animals. An increase in lipid peroxidation level above normal was evident in serum of irradiated mice, while a significant decrease in such values was noted in rosemary pretreated group. The present study suggests the possible radioprotective ability of rosemary extract.

Chemopreventive action of emblica officinalis on skin carcinogenesis in mice.

Chemoprevention with food phytochemicals is currently regarded as one of the most important strategies for cancer control. Emblica officinalis (Family: Euphorbiaceae) indigenous to India, is valued for its unique tannins and flavanoids, which contain very powerful antioxidant properties. The inhibition of tumor incidences by fruit extract of this plant has been evaluated on two-stage process of skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice, induced by a single application of 7, 12-dimethyabenz(a)anthrecene (100 microg / 100 microl acetone), and two weeks later, promoted by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/thrice a week) till the end of the experiment (16 weeks). The tumor incidence, tumor yield, tumor burdon and cumulative number of papillomas were found to be higher in the control (without EO treatment) as compared to experimental animals (EO treated). The differences in the values of the results of experimental groups were statistically analysed and found to be significant in comparison to the control group (p< 0.05). The present study demonstrates the chemopreventive potential of Emblica officinalis fruit extract on DMBA induced skin tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice.