Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology

ISSN for PRINT: 0731-8898

For Online Access

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2001, Volume20

Issue 1

79 pages

Issue price - $160.00

Rachana Thapliyal
Carcinogenesis Division, Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, India

Shailesh S. Deshpande
Carcinogenesis Division, Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, India

Girish B. Maru
Tobacco Carcinogenesis Group, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India

Turmeric and/or its main coloring component, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), have been shown to inhibit benzo(a) pyrene [B(a)P]-induced forestomach papillomas in mice. However, the mechanisms of turmeric-mediated chemoprevention are not well understood.To study the mechanisms of turmeric-mediated chemoprevention, we investigated the effects of turmeric feeding on the activities of isozymes of cytochrome P-450 (CYP450)—namely, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD, CYP1A1) and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD, CYP1A2)—which are predominantly involved in the metabolism of B(a)P. We determined the activities of EROD and MROD by monitoring the formation of resorufin from respective substrates in the presence of microsomal proteins obtained from tissues of control, 1% turmeric, 1 mg B(a)P, and 1% turmeric + 1 mg B(a)P-fed Swiss mice. The results indicate that the administration of turmeric through diet significantly inhibited the activities of both EROD and MROD in forestomach (target organ), liver, and lung. In vitro studies employing curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bis-demethoxycurcumin suggest that curcumins are the inhibitors in turmeric. Inhibition of B(a)P metabolizing phase I enzymes (EROD, MROD) may be at least in part one of the possible modes of chemopreventive action of turmeric/curcumin.

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