Protective Effect of Glabridine on 7, 12-Dimethylbenz [A] Anthracene - Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino Mice

Cancer is a group of complex genetic diseases of aged cells. Chemoprevention of cancer is the attempt to use natural and synthetic compounds to get involved in the early stages of cancer, before persistent disease begins. The protective effect of glabridine on 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene-induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice was assesed in this paper. The 24 mice were divided into 4 groups each group contain 6 mice. The depilated back of groups I to IV mice was painted with DMBA (25 mg in 0.1 ml acetone/mouse) two times weekly for 8 weeks. group I mice served as vehicle-treated control. Group II mice received no other treatment. Group III and IV mice received topical application of glabridine (50 and 100 mgkg-1 bw) starting 1 week before the exposure to the carcinogen and continued for 25 weeks (three times/week on alternate days). In DMBA-painted mice, a 100% tumor formation with mean tumor volume and tumor burden was observed. Topical application of glabridine and dehydroleucodine completely prevented tumor incidence in DMBA-painted mice.