Anti-tumor and Anti-oxidative Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis in 7, 12 Dimethyl Benz(a) Anthracene Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to explore the antitumor-promoting activity of R.officinalis on 2-stage skin carcinogenesis, induced by a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and promoted by repeated treatment of croton oil for 16 weeks in Swiss albino mice. Oral administration of R.officinalis leaves extract, during the peri-and post-initiation stage induced by 7,12dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), reduced the tumor burden to 2.6 (positive control value: 5.16); cumulative number of papillomas to 13 (positive control value: 62) and percent incidence of mice bearing papillomas to 41.66 %, (positive control value: 100%). A significant (p<0.001) decreased was observed in Lipid peroxidation level by the administration of ROE. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and total proteins was found to be significantly elevated in liver and skin (p < 0.001) of mice in ROE treated group. Skin and liver of R.officinalis treated group animals showed a significant enhancement in antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase, when compared with the carcinogen treated control. These studies indicate that R.officinalis could reduce the chemical induced tumor and oxidative stress during skin carcinogenesis.