Cancer Chemopreventive Property of <i>Bidens pilosa</i> Methanolic Extract on Two Stage <i>in vivo</i> Skin Carcinogenesis Model

Abstract

The effect of the methanolic extract of whole plant of B. pilosa on drug metabolizing phase I and II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidase, anticarcinogenic potential in dimethylbenzathracene induced forestomach and tetradecanoyl acetate promoted skin papillomagenesis was studied in mice. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase and DT-diaphorase specific activities were elevated above basal level. Bidens pilosa methanolic extract was effective in elevating antioxidant enzyme response by increasing significantly the hepatic glutathione peroxidase, gluatathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Reduced glutathione measured as non protein sulphydryl was found to be significantly increased in liver while in extrahepatic organs it was decreased. In the forestomach, kidney and lung, glutathione S-transferase and DT-diaphorase levels were significantly reduced. Chemopreventive response was calculated by the mean number of papillomas /mouse and percentage of tumorbearing mice. There was a significant inhibition of tumor burden in both the tumor model systems studied.