Use of Moracin in preventing the cancer

Abstract

Efforts in the study were conducted to assess the protective influence of Moracin, the major constituent of leaves of mulberry, Morusalba (L) on tumor promotion in 7, 12 - dimethylbenz( alpha ) anthracene (DMBA) - initiated and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate ( TPA ) - promoted mouse skin tumerigenesis model. The acetone solution of Moracin was topically applied to DMBA - initiated female mouse skin at the dosage of 2.5 and 5 mg twice per week for sixteen weeks, thirty minutes prior to each promotion treatment with TPA in the first experimental schedule. The significant reduction in tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity effects were evident in the treated group. The expression of tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) - alpha protein and the level of 4-hydroxynoneal ( 4HNE) in the normal epidermis were significantly reduced in both moracin treated groups. Moracin at the dosage of 5 mg was topically applied to the dorsal surface of mouse skin 30 minutes before application of a TPA in the second effort in the study. And the same dosages of TPA and Moracin were applied twice at the interval of 24 hours. Moracin treatment was found inhibiting the double TPA treatment - induced morphological changes reflecting inflammatory response, including leucocyte infiltration, hyperplasia and cell proliferation. Moracintreatment, furthermore significantly suppressed the elevation in 4- HNE level and elevated expression of c-fos, c-myc and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in normal epidermis induced by double application of TPA. The moracin was found protective influence in tumor promotion. Efficient utilization of Moracin may open a new avenue in the treatment of skin cancer.