Chemopreventive efficacy of different doses of Ferula asafoetida oleo-gum-resin against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced rat colon carcinogenesis

Abstract

Colon cancer is the third most common malignant neoplasm in the world and it remains an important cause of deaths, especially in western countries. Its etiology is known to be a combination of hereditary, environmental, dietary factors and lack of physical activity. Chemoprevention through dietary intervention is an emerging option to reduce mortality due to colon cancer. The present study was aimed to investigate the chemopreventive potential of different doses of Ferula asafoetida oleo-gum-resin on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced rat colon carcinogenesis by evaluating tumor multiplicity, tumor incidence, and tumor size, Serum total sialic acid levels as well as histoarchitecture of colons of rats subjected to various treatment. Rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group I rats served as control. Group 2 rats received DMH (30 mg/kg body weight (bw)) for 16 weeks. Group 3-5 animals received asafoetida daily at a dose level of 5mg/100gm bw, 10mg/100gm bw and 20mg/100gm bw respectively along with weakly DMH injections. Group 6 rats received asafoetida daily (20mg/100g bw daily) for 16 weeks. Increased tumor incidence and multiplicity was observed in DMH treated rats which were decreased with asafoetida supplementation. Asafoetida at the dose of 10mg/100gm bw had shown profound beneficial effects by exhibiting near normal Total Sialic Acid levels and well-preserved colon histology. These findings suggest that asafoetida dose 10mg/100g bw is minimum dose with maximum protection for colon cancer.