Mitigating Effect of Dietary Dioclea reflexa (Hook F) Seed Inclusion in Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Rats exposed to 72-hour intrarectal instillations of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) were fed with Dioclea refexa seed-included diets (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10%). Following sacrifce, organs and blood were collected and analyzed for indices of oxidative stress and carcinogenesis using spectrophotometric, ELISA, histological, and immunohistochemical techniques. Dioclea refexa seed included diets signifcantly (p < 0.05) prevented MNU-induced elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), malondialde hyde, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and boosted the activities of glutathione s-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. It also prevented MNU-induced colonic mucosal ulceration/interglandular infammations and protected the mismatch repair gene, Mutl homolog1, against MNU-induced damage. Tere was a strong negative relationship between CEA, NLR, and the antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as total polyphenols, total favonoids, and crude fber, while CEA correlated positively with malondialdehyde levels. Tese results suggest that Dioclea refexa seed is endowed with constituents possessing a potent capacity to mitigate oxidative stress, as well as the initiation and promotion of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis.