Chemopreventive effects of pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) on preneoplastic lesions in a mouse model of hepatocarcinogenesis

Abstract

Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), a fruit from Brazil's central region, was evaluated for its chemopreventive effects on preneoplastic liver lesions induced by the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in mice. BALB/c mice, 14 days of age, received an intraperitoneal injection at 10 µg/g of DEN. The mice received either of two doses of pequi oil (100 or 400 mg/kg) daily from the age of 30 days and were killed at the age of 189 days. Stereological parameters, including the volume density (Vv) and the total volume (Vtot) of the lesions (preneoplastic and adenomas), were measured and the expression of cytokeratins CK8/18 was evaluated. The total volume of lesions and adenomas was reduced by 51% in the group treated with the carcinogen and 400 mg/kg of pequi oil administered daily by an oral gavage for 25 consecutive weeks. In addition, some mice in this group did not develop lesions. Among the remaining preneoplastic lesions in this group, the number of remodelled profiles increased by 2.4-fold in the 400-mg pequi oil-treated mice relative to the 100-mg-treated mice. Our results show that pequi oil exerts a hepatoprotective effect against DEN-induced development of preneoplastic lesions and adenoma in mice and the potential for its use in the prevention of liver cancer.

Caryocar brasiliense fruit intake ameliorates hepatic fat deposition and improves intestinal structure of rats

“…However, this fruit has been poorly studied. To the author's knowledge, there are only some research showing healing (Quirino et al, 2009;Bezerra et al, 2015), chemopreventive (Palmeira et al, 2016;Colombo et al, 2015) and anti-inflammatory (MirandaVilela et al, 2009) properties of pequi oil. Studies regarding functional properties from pequi pulp intake are scarce (Teixeira et al, 2013).…”

Effect of the application of an enzymatic pretreatment on bioactive compounds ofCaryocar brasilienseCamb pulp oil

“…Recent studies showed that pequi oil exerts a hepatoprotective effect against diethylnitrosamine-induced development of preneoplastic lesions and adenoma in mice and its use prevent the liver cancer (Palmeira et al, 2016). Recent studies showed that pequi oil exerts a hepatoprotective effect against diethylnitrosamine-induced development of preneoplastic lesions and adenoma in mice and its use prevent the liver cancer (Palmeira et al, 2016).…”

“…In Brazil, it is common to use the pequi oil in the treatment of inflammation and other diseases such as colds and broncho-pulmonary infections and in the form of compresses and physiotherapeutic massages in cases of muscular, rheumatic, and bruising pains . Recent studies showed that pequi oil exerts a hepatoprotective effect against diethylnitrosamine-induced development of preneoplastic lesions and adenoma in mice and its use prevent the liver cancer (Palmeira et al, 2016).…”

Caryocar brasiliense oil improves cardiac function by increasing Serca2a/PLB ratio despite no significant changes in cardiovascular risk factors in rats

“…However, although there are many evidences from its chemical components related to cardiovascular health, this food has been poorly studied in this context. To our knowledge, there are some research showing healing [20], chemopreventive [21, 22], anti-mutagenic [23], antioxidant [24], anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive [25] and anti-cancer [26, 27] properties of pequi oil in humans or animal models. In addition, most of the information has not been obtained from its intake.…”