ASSESSMENT OF THE CHEMOPREVENTIVE EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION WITH CUCURBITA MAXIMA LEAF ON N-METHYL-N- NITROSOUREA-INDUCED COLON CARCINOGENESIS IN WISTAR RATS
ASSESSMENT OF THE CHEMOPREVENTIVE EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION WITH CUCURBITA MAXIMA LEAF ON N-METHYL-N- NITROSOUREA-INDUCED COLON CARCINOGENESIS IN WISTAR RATS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-09
Authors
ONUCHE, JobItanyi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
There is growing attention on medicinal plants use as food for cancer inhibiting potential, so that chemo preventive dietary inclusion can be identified for human use. One of such plant is Curcurbita maxima commonly known as Giant pumpkin. The preventive effect of dietary inclusion at 2.5%, 5% and 10% with the leaf of Cucurbita maxima on colon carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl N- nitrosourea(MNU) for 12 weeks was assessed in male albino Wistar rats. The colon and liver of rats administered the Cucurbita maxima leaf included diet, showed significant(P˂0.05) increase in the activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD) in the treated groups when compared with the MNU control group. A dose-dependent decrease in oxidative stress was observed in the colon of treatment group with the highest percentage inclusion(10%) showing the lowest MDA value. A significant (P˂0.05) increase in some hematological parameters like PCV, Red blood cell (RBC), heamglobin count (HB) were observed in the treated group when compared with the MNU control group. While an increase in white blood cell count (WBC) and neutrophils was observed in the MNU control group when compared with the normal control group. A significant (P˂0.05) decrease in the level of Carcinoembrayonic antigen (CEA) was observed in the Cucurbita maxima leaf diet fed group when compared with the MNU control group. Immunohistochemical observation of the colon tissue showed mild to moderate expression of the DNA mismatch repair (MLH1) gene in the treated groups when compared with the MNU control group showing mild to no expression of the MLH1 gene. Histological observation of colon tissue showed a severe damage to the mucosa cell, with mucosa ulceration and sclerosis being observed in the MNU control group when compared with the treated groups and normal control that both showed a better architecture of the cells. The results therefore,shows the ability of Cucurbita maxima leaf dietary inclusion to improve endogenous antioxidant system maintain or improve heamatological parameter ,prevent oxidative stress, protect organ damage induced by MNU carcinogen, thus indicating the potential of Cucurbita maxima leaf to prevent the process of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE (M.Sc.) IN NUTRITION
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY
FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA-NIGERIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, CHEMOPREVENTIVE EFFECT,, DIETARY INCLUSION,, CUCURBITA MAXIMA LEAF,, N-METHYL-N- NITROSOUREA-INDUCED COLON CARCINOGENESIS,, WISTAR RATS