Evaluation of Cissampelos pareira against gastric cancer and enzymes associated with carcinogen metabolism

Abstract

The current study is an effort to identify the effect of a hydroalcohol (50% ethanol) extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira (L.) Hirsuta (Menispermaceae) (CPE) in forestomach cancer and on carcinogen metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes along with antioxidant enzymes. In forestomach, the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased significantly and dose-dependently. The protective effect of CPE was studied against benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced gastric cancer in mice, and the tumor incidence was reduced and the mean number of tumors and the tumor multiplicity were reduced significantly and dose-dependently. The modulatory effect of CPE was also examined on carcinogen metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxidation in liver. Significant increases in the levels of acid-soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) and cytochrome P450 contents and in enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5 reductase, GST, DTD, SOD, catalase, glutathione (GSH) peroxidase, and GSH reductase but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) showed an increase in hepatic levels of GSH content, cytochrome b5, DTD, GST, glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase, whereas MDA formation was inhibited significantly. BHA also showed increased levels of DTD, GST, and SOD significantly in forestomach. The enhanced GSH level and enzyme activities involved in xenobiotic metabolism and maintaining antioxidant status of cells are suggestive of a chemopreventive efficacy of Cissampelos pareira against chemotoxicity, including carcinogenicity.