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Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Antitumor activity of diallyl sulfide in two-stage mouse skin model of carcinogenesis
1Laboratory of Environmental Carcinogenesis, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, India.
Abstract:
It has been reported that diallyl sulfide (DAS), a sulfur-containing volatile compound in garlic (Allium sativum), exerts anticarcinogenic activity in various rodent tumor models. In the present study, the antitumor property of DAS was tested in Swiss albino mice in the two stage initiation-promotion mouse skin carcinogenesis. Skin cancers were initiated topically with a single subcarcinogenic dose (52 micrograms) of 7, 12-dimethyl benz (a) anthracene (DMBA). Promotion was performed by twice weekly applications of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at a dose of 5 micrograms/animal for 32 weeks. DAS was applied topically (250 micrograms/animal) thrice weekly for 3 weeks for anti-initiating and 1 h prior to each promotion treatment for anti-promoting studies. The results showed that the treatment schedule of DAS can effectively delay the onset of tumorigenesis and reduce the cumulative number of tumors and the average number of tumors per mouse. In groups in which DAS applied prior to initiation or promotion, a significant population of the animals remained tumor-free till the termination of experiment. These findings suggest that DAS can effectively inhibit chemically induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.
Insights
Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a compound found in garlic, demonstrated significant antitumor properties by delaying the onset and reducing the incidence of chemically induced skin cancers in mice. Topical application of DAS effectively inhibited skin carcinogenesis, keeping many animals tumor-free.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Dermatology
Background:
- Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a sulfur-containing volatile compound in garlic (Allium sativum), has shown anticarcinogenic activity in rodent models.
- Chemically induced skin carcinogenesis is a widely used model to study cancer development and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antitumor property of diallyl sulfide (DAS) in a two-stage initiation-promotion mouse skin carcinogenesis model.
- To determine the efficacy of DAS as an anti-initiating and anti-promoting agent against chemically induced skin cancer.
Main Methods:
- Swiss albino mice were subjected to skin carcinogenesis initiated with 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and promoted with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).
- Diallyl sulfide (DAS) was applied topically before initiation or promotion treatments.
- Tumor onset, cumulative tumor number, and tumor incidence were monitored over 32 weeks.
Main Results:
- Diallyl sulfide (DAS) treatment significantly delayed the onset of skin tumorigenesis.
- DAS application reduced the cumulative number of tumors and the average number of tumors per mouse.
- A significant proportion of animals treated with DAS remained tumor-free throughout the experimental period.
Conclusions:
- Diallyl sulfide (DAS) effectively inhibits chemically induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.
- DAS exhibits both anti-initiating and anti-promoting properties in this model.
- These findings support the potential of DAS as a chemopreventive agent against skin cancer.

![Chemical-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis Model Using Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene and 12-O-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate (DMBA-TPA)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60445.jpg&w=3840&q=50)