MURRAYA KOENIGII AND BRASSICA-JUNCEA - ALTERATIONS ON LIPID PROFILE IN 1-2-DIMETHYL HYDRAZINE INDUCED COLON CARCINOGENESIS

The influence of the two commonly used spices Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) leaf and Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds on the levels of lipids , fecal bile acids and neutral sterols was studied in rats administere d 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (1,2 DMH). The levels of cholesterol and phos pholipids decreased in the experimental groups when compared with the control. The cholesterol phospholipid ratio showed an elevated level i n the DMH treated control compared with the spices group. Bile acids a nd neutral sterols showed a sharp increase in the spices treated group s in liver and feces when compared with the control. Morphological and histological studies revealed that the mean number of neoplasms in th e colon and intestine were significantly low in the spices fed groups.