Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts
09:20

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts

Published on: June 26, 2018

Suppression of colon carcinogenesis by bioactive compounds in grapefruit

Jairam Vanamala1, Tety Leonardi, Bhimanagouda S Patil

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Carcinogenesis
|January 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Grapefruit and limonin show promise in preventing colon cancer by reducing aberrant crypt foci and inflammation. These natural compounds may suppress cancer development by lowering proliferation and increasing apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Cancer Research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are early indicators of colon cancer.
  • Citrus compounds like naringin and limonin are being investigated for chemopreventive properties.
  • Inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis play critical roles in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the protective effects of grapefruit and its compounds against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced ACF in rats.
  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying these effects, including modulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers (COX-2, iNOS).

Main Methods:

  • Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing control, untreated grapefruit, irradiated grapefruit, naringin, or limonin.
  • Azoxymethane (AOM) was administered to induce ACF.
  • Colon tissues were analyzed for ACF, proliferation, apoptosis, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels.

Main Results:

  • Experimental diets, particularly untreated grapefruit and limonin, significantly suppressed ACF and high multiplicity ACF (HMACF) formation.
  • Untreated grapefruit and limonin diets reduced the proliferative index and expansion of the proliferative zone.
  • All tested diets increased the apoptotic index, with the most significant increase observed with untreated grapefruit and limonin.
  • Untreated grapefruit and limonin diets suppressed the elevation of iNOS and COX-2 levels induced by AOM.

Conclusions:

  • Untreated grapefruit and limonin demonstrate significant chemopreventive effects against AOM-induced colon cancer in rats.
  • These effects are associated with suppressed proliferation, elevated apoptosis, and reduced inflammatory markers (iNOS and COX-2).
  • Consumption of grapefruit or limonin may contribute to the suppression of colon cancer development.

More Related Videos

Establishment of Coloproctitis Cancer Model in Mice and Evaluation of Therapeutic Effect of Chinese Medicine06:24

Establishment of Coloproctitis Cancer Model in Mice and Evaluation of Therapeutic Effect of Chinese Medicine

Published on: October 13, 2023

Non-invasive Assessment of the Efficacy of New Therapeutics for Intestinal Pathologies Using Serial Endoscopic Imaging of Live Mice09:01

Non-invasive Assessment of the Efficacy of New Therapeutics for Intestinal Pathologies Using Serial Endoscopic Imaging of Live Mice

Published on: March 10, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...