INHIBITION OF 7,12-DIMETHYLBENZ[A]ANTHRACENE (DMBA)-INDUCED MAMMARY TUMORIGENESIS AND DMBA-DNA ADDUCT FORMATION BY CURCUMIN

Curcumin, a constituent of the traditional Indian spice and medicine t urmeric, was evaluated for its capacity to inhibit the mammary tumor i nitiating activity of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and the in vivo formation of mammary DMBA-DNA adducts in the female rat. Adminis tration (i.p.) of curcumin at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses was associ ated with a significant decrease in the number of palpable mammary tum ors and mammary adenocarcinomas. The in vivo formation of mammary DMBA -DNA adducts also was depressed for animals administered curcumin dose s from 50 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg. There was, however, no significant enhan cement of liver glutathione-S-transferase activity following curcumin administration. Therefore, curcumin when administered i.p. can act as an effective chemopreventative agent towards DMBA-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis and mammary adduct formation.