INHIBITION OF LUNG METASTASIS IN MICE INDUCED BY B16F10 MELANOMA-CELLS BY POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

Several polyphenolic compounds were tested for the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F10 melanoma cells in mice. Oral administrati on of polyphenols such as curcumin and catechin at concentrations of 2 00 nmol/kg body weight were found to inhibit the lung metastasis maxim ally as seen by the reduction in the number of lung tumor nodules (80% ). Other polyphenols which inhibited the lung tumor nodule formation w ere rutin (71.2%), epicatechin (61%), naringin (27.2%) and naringenin (26.1%). The polyphenols which did not inhibit lung tumor nodule forma tion were quercetin, morin and ellagic acid. Consequent to the inhibit ion of the lung tumor nodules, the life span of animals treated with p olyphenols was also found to be increased. Curcumin (143.85%), catechi n (80.81%) and rutin (63.59%) had maximal increase in life span. The r esults indicate a possible use of these compounds in arresting the met astatic growth of tumor cells.