Dietary Feeding of Opuntia Humifusa Inhibits UVB Radiation‐Induced Carcinogenesis by Reducing Inflammation and Proliferation in Hairless Mouse Model

Abstract

It has been validated that ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induced both squamous and basal cell carcinomas, as a tumor initiator and promoter. Opuntia humifusa is a member of the Cactaceae family which has been demonstrated in our previous study to have a chemopreventive effect in 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced skin carcinogenesis models. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the protective effects of O. humifusa against photocarcinogenesis. O. humifusa was administrated to mice as a dietary feeding, following exposure to UVB radiation (180 mJ/cm(2)) twice a week of 30 weeks for skin tumor development in hairless mice. Dietary O. humifusa inhibited UVB-induced epidermal hyperplasia, infiltration of leukocytes, level of myeloperoxidase and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in UVB exposed skin. Also, O. humifusa significantly inhibited both protein and mRNA expression level of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1 compared to the non-O. humifusa treated group. Collectively, these results suggest that O. humifusa could inhibit photocarcinogenesis in mouse skin and that protective effect is associated with the inhibition of not only UVB-induced inflammatory responses involving COX-2, iNOS and proinflammatory cytokines, but also the down-regulation of UVB-induced cellular proliferation.

Blackberry extract inhibits UVB-induced oxidative damage and inflammation through MAP kinases and NF-κB signaling pathways in SKH-1 mice skin

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that the expressions of proinflammatory enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) are induced by UVB exposure (Afaq et al 2003b; JA Lee et al 2013; Sharma and Katiyar 2010). We examined the effect of BBE on UVB-induced expressions of epidermal iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α protein.…”

Opuntia spp.: Characterization and Benefits in Chronic Diseases

“…More studies are needed to confirm the protective effects of Opuntia spp., testing those compounds in a more physiological way or for instance by oral route that will take into account the digestibility and bioavailability of such compounds. In this spirit, O. humifusa fruit lyophilized powder given in the pelleted diet was reported to be protective in two different animal models of skin carcinogenesis, together with a reduction of skin lipid peroxidation and skin inflammation [122, 123]. …”

Opuntia humifusamodulates morphological changes characteristic of asthma via IL-4 and IL-13 in an asthma murine model

“…Recently, it has been shown to have antifungal [23] and anticancer [24,25] properties, as well as to improve insulin sensitivity [26] and increase bone density [27]. The objective of this study was to analyze the possible anti-asthmatic effects of O. humifusa and their mechanisms.…”