Carcinogenic effect of force-feeding an extract of black pepper (Piper nigrum) in Egyptian toads (Bufo regularis).

50 male and 50 female Bufo regularis were treated, by force-feeding, with an extract of black pepper, at a dose level of 2 mg, 3 times a week for 5 months. The first tumors appeared after 2 months. Liver tumors (hepatocellular carcinomas, lymphosarcomas and fibrosarcomas) were found in 12 males and 18 females. Metastatic deposits of hepatocellular carcinomas were registered in the spleen, kidney, fat body and ovary.

Carcinogenesis induced by black pepper (Piper nigrum) and modulated by vitamin A.

Painting and feeding of mice with 2mg of an extract from black pepper on 3 days a week for 3 months results in a significant increase of the number of tumor-bearing mice. Tumor incidence is reduced in those groups of experimental animals receiving 5 or 10mg Vitamin A-palmitate twice weekly for 3 months by feeding or painting during and subsequent to application of pepper extract. Feeding of mice with powder of black pepper in diet (50g/3kg food) has no impact on carcinogenesis.

Tumour-promoting effect of chilli extract in BALB/c mice.

In 50% of BALB/c mice pretreated with atropine, tongue tumours were induced by fortnightly application of DMN-OAc (2 mg/kg) on the tongue. When DMN-OAc + TPA was used for the initiation-promotion protocol, tumours were observed on the tongue, the site of application, in only 10% of animals. In the same group, stomach tumours were obtained in 63% of mice, denoting that initiation-promotion could be successfully used to induce stomach tumours. Using a protocol of DMN-OAc + chilli as a promoter, we observed induction of stomach tumours. The promoter effect of chilli extract was also seen in the BHC-induced hepato-carcinogenesis system. It thus appears that, in BALB/c mice, chilli acts as a promoter in stomach and liver carcinogenesis.

Mutagenicity of chili extract and capsaicin in short-term tests.

Vanillin, capsaicin and chili extracts were tested for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium histidine-deficient tester strains TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537, and TA 1538. Vanillin was nonmutagenic, whereas chili extract and capsaicin were mutagenic with metabolic activation. Capsaicin, an active component of chili extract, was the more potent mutagen. The positive samples were also tested in two mammalian test systems: the micronucleus test and the 8-azaguanine-resistant mutagenesis assay that used V79 Chinese hamster cells. It was observed that both were negative for the latter test at the dose level tested, whereas in the micronucleus test, only capsaicin was positive near the LD50 dose. Capsaicin also inhibited DNA synthesis in the testes of Swiss mice injected at two dose levels.

Genotoxicity of garlic, turmeric and asafoetida in mice.

The genotoxic effects of orally administered garlic and turmeric were evaluated in bone-marrow cells of mice by performing the micronucleus test. Another spice, asafoetida, was tested for the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in spermatogonia of mice. Results of the micronucleus test with garlic and turmeric were not significantly different from control values. Orally administered asafoetida, however, showed a weak SCE-inducing effect in spermatogonia.

Mutagenicity of extracts from Ceylon cinnamon in the rec assay.

The extraction of about 1.9 kg of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees) with 10 litres each of petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus produced extracts weighing 76, 28 and 270 g respectively for the three solvents. In the preliminary test the ethanol extract showed no mutagenic activity. However, both the petroleum ether and the chloroform extracts showed mutagenicity when tested in the rec assay using Bacillus subtilis strains H17 (rec+) and M45 (rec-). When these extracts were studied quantitatively by the liquid and spore rec-assay methods, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts against strain H17 were higher than those against strain M45. However, in the presence of the liver S-9 mix, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts against both strains of B. subtilis were equal, indicating that the mutagenicity of the extracts had been inactivated.

[Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat]. / Azione degli olii essenziali di camomilla, cannella, assenzio, magis e origano su un comportamento operativo nel ratto.

The Chamomile, Cinnamon, Absinthium, Mace, Origanum essential oils have been experimented on rat's operant conditioning behaviour. At the highest doses all the oils caused a depressive effect (probably due to toxicity) while at the lowest doses they caused weak or doubtful effects. Only the Origanum oil caused a depressive effect which clearly seems related to a direct action on the CNS.

Turmeric--chemistry, technology, and quality.

Turmeric is a minor spice in the West, but a major one in the East. It is valued by Westerners mainly, if not solely, on account of its color, but to the Asians both color and aroma are equally important. This review critically appraises the existing knowledge on the chemistry of the functionally important constituents, the processing of the spice into wholes, powder, and oleoresins, and the objective methods and standards available for evaluation of quality. The importance of the mild (but persistent) aroma, and the lack of detailed knowledge on the significant volatiles are discussed. Some unpublished data on significant aroma components, a tristimulus study of color, and subjective evaluations of quality are summarized. Other areas briefly discussed are the production and trade, curry powder, allied spices, and biosynthetic and physiological aspects. The confusion existing in the literature on the nomenclature of species included in the genus Curcuma is pointed out. In view of the growing importance of turmeric and its extracts as a natural food color, recent results on toxicological aspects are discussed. The areas in which research is needed are indicated at the end.