Beta-carotene-containing preparation carinat inhibits lipid peroxidation and development of renal tumors in rats treated with chemical carcinogen.

Abstract

The effects of pretreatment with beta-carotene-containing preparation carinat on the development of renal tumors in rats receiving single intravenous injection of chemical carcinogen 3-(1-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl)-1-methyl-1-nitrosourea were studied. Fourteen months after carcinogen administration, the degree of lipid oxidation in rat kidneys 2.5-fold surpassed that in animals receiving carinat in a dose producing in vivo antioxidant effect. Carinat decreased the total number of induced tumors and the incidence of mesenchymal renal tumors and suppressed the development of multiple tumors. The accumulation of lipoperoxides in the kidneys during carcinogenesis is associated with activation of free radical processes and carcinogen-induced inhibition of lipoperoxide enzymatic degradation and probably promotes renal malignancies due to co-carcinogenic action of these compounds. The data suggest that carinat-induced suppression of tumor development attests to antioxidant effects of beta-carotene.