Enhancing effects of Thai edible plants on 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxaline-hepatocarcinogenesis in a rat medium-term bioassay

Boesenbergia pandurata (Zingiberaceae), Languas galanga (Zingiberaceae) and Citrus hystrix (Rutaceae) are edible plants that are commonly used as flav ors or condiments in various Thai food dishes. They are known to exert stro ng anti-promoting activity in a test of tumor promoter-induced Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation. In the present study their effects on hepatocarcin ogeness were investigated in a medium-term bioassay using F344 male rats. C . hystrix significantly enhanced 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4-5-f)quinox p reneoplastic liver cell focus development while B. pandurata and L, galanga had borderline effects. The results suggest that C. hystrix as well as B. pandurata and L. galanga may contain agents augmenting the hepatocarcinogen icity of 2-amino-3,8-dimerhylimidazo(4,5-f)quinox (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.