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Evaluation of Chemopreventive Efficacy of Cassia Fistula in 7, 12 Dimethyl Benz (A) Anthracene (DMBA) induced Oral Carcinogenesis

K. Vasudevan, S. Manoharan, Linsa Mary Alias, S. Balakrishnan, L. Vellaichamy and M. Gitanjali

Cassia fistula is used in Indian traditional medicine as a remedy for various diseases including tumours. The present study has investigated the chemopreventive efficacy of Cassia fistula bark extracts in 7, 12–dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. The mechanistic pathway for its chemopreventive potential was assessed by measuring the status of lipid peroxidation by-products, antioxidants and detoxification enzyme activities in the circulation and tissues of tumour bearing animals. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was developed in buccal pouches of hamsters by painting with 0.5% DMBA, three times a week for 14 weeks. We observed 100% tumour formation in DMBA alone painted animals. Oral administration of Cassia fistula bark extract to DMBA painted animals completely prevented the formation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The bark extract also restored the status of lipid peroxidation by-products, antioxidants and detoxification enzymes in DMBA painted animals. These results suggest that Cassia fistula bark extract has prominent chemopreventive effect during DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis, which is probably due to the presence of one or more potent anticarcinogenic principles and their synergistic effect. The chemopreventive potential of Cassia fistula may also be due to its antilipid peroxidative, antioxidative and modulation of detoxification agents during DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis.