Chemopreventive efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on azoxymethane-induced aberrant colon crypt foci in vivo

• Published in: PloS one 2014-11, Vol.9 (11), p.e111118-e111118
• Main Authors: Al-Henhena, Nawal, Ying, Rozaida Poh Yuen, Ismail, Salmah, Najm, Walaa, Najm, Wala, Khalifa, Shaden A M, El-Seedi, Hesham, Ameen Abdulla, Mahmood, Abdulla, Mahmood Ameen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aberrant Crypt Foci - chemically induced; Aberrant Crypt Foci - drug therapy; Aberration; Andrographis - chemistry; Andrographis paniculata; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - chemistry; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Azoxymethane; Azoxymethane - adverse effects; beta Catenin - metabolism; Cancer; Cancer prevention; Cancer therapies; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemotherapy; Chinese medicine; Colon; Colon - drug effects; Colon cancer; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Elongation; Ethanol; Female; Flavonoids - chemistry; Glands; Herbal medicine; Humans; Inflammatory bowel disease; Kinases; Malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mucosa; Natural products; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nutrition research; Orifices; Oxidative stress; Phenol - chemistry; Physical Sciences; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Prevention; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rodents; Science; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Tumors; β-catenin
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111118

Andrographis paniculata is a grass-shaped medicinal herb, traditionally used in Southeast Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemoprotective effects of A. paniculata on colorectal cancer. A. paniculata ethanol extract was tested on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in vivo and in vitro. A. paniculata treated groups showed a significant reduction in the number of ACF of the treated rats. Microscopically, ACF showed remarkably elongated and stratified cells, and depletion of the submucosal glands of AOM group compared to the treated groups. Histologically, staining showed slightly elevated masses above the surrounding mucosa with oval or slit-like orifices. Immunohistochemically, expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and β-catenin protein were down-regulated in the A. paniculata treated groups compared to the AOM group. When colon tissue was homogenized, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly decreased, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased in the treated groups compared to the AOM group. A. paniculata ethanol extract showed antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, as elucidated by the measure of oxidative stress markers. Further, the active fractions were assessed against cell lines of CCD841 and HT29 colon cancer cells.