The potential preventive effect of dietary phytochemicals In Vivo

INTRODUCTION: Chemoprevention refers to using specific substances during oncogenesis. Curcumin and catechins are both polyphenol types of phytochemicals present in Curcuma longa and green tea. The effect of curcumin is synergistic with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in tea. AIM: To evaluate and compare the chemopreventive effect of both green tea and curcumin (each individually and in combination) in a hamster buccal pouch carcinoma model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Squamous cell carcinoma was chemically induced in fifty Syrian golden hamsters divided into 5 groups (10 each): normal control; DMBA only (positive control); DMBA + green tea; DMBA + curcumin; DMBA + green tea and curcumin. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical assays assessed apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis; ANOVA analyzed group differences. RESULTS: The positive control group showed 11.57% apoptosis, whereas green tea, curcumin, and the combination increased apoptosis markedly; treated groups showed decreased red fluorescence (PCNA) and lower microvessel density compared with positive control. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of green tea and curcumin has a significant chemopreventive effect against oral carcinogenesis.

Mai M. Saleh, Zeinab E. Darwish, Manal I. El Nouaem, Nesrin A. Fayed, Ghada M. Mourad, Omneya R. Ramadan