| ABSTRACT: |
|
The inhibitory effects of three phenolic compounds (ferulic,
chlorogenic and ellagic acids) on benzo[a]pyrene- and
7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced neoplasia have been investigated in
mice. Ellagic acid was the most potent antagonist of tumorigenesis since
this compound is active, by i.p. administration or added in the diet, on
benzo[a]pyrene-induced pulmonary adenoma formation in A/J mice and, after
topical application, on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced skin
tumorigenesis in NMRI Swiss mice. If ellagic acid has little or no effect
on the number of tumor bearing animals, the incidence of pulmonary tumors
per animal is decreased by greater than 50%. Ferulic acid and chlorogenic
acid (5 X 100 mg/kg, by i.p. route) were also active, but less than
ellagic acid, against the lung carcinogenesis by benzo[a]-pyrene (100
mg/kg, i.p.) but were totally ineffective against the formation of skin
tumors by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. These results remarkably
paralleled the in vitro antimutagenic effects of these compounds shown by
Wood et al. on benzo[a]pyrene. It must be noted that ellagic acid only
exerted, by i.p. route, a severe toxicity after four injections of 100
mg/kg, in oil suspension, whereas the oral administration in the diet (a
daily dose of 100 mg/kg during 15 days) did not cause any toxicity. |