Wheat germ extract inhibits experimental colon carcinogenesis in F-344 rats

It has been demonstrated for the first time that a wheat germ extract preve nts colonic cancer in laboratory animals. Four-week-old inbred male F-344 r ats were used in the study. Colon carcinogenesis has been induced by azoxym ethane (AOM). Ten rats served as untreated controls (group 1). For the trea tment of the animals in group 2, AOM was dissolved in physiologic saline an d the animals were given three subcutaneous injections 1 week apart, 15 mg/ kg body weight (b/w) each. In two additional groups Avemar (MSC), a ferment ed wheat germ extract standardized to 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone was admi nistered as a tentative chemo-preventive agent. MSC was dissolved in water and was given by gavage at a dose of 3 g/kg b/w once a day. In group 3, ani mals started to receive MSC 2 weeks prior to the first injection of AOM dai ly and continuously thereafter until they were killed 32 weeks later. In gr oup 4 the basal diet and MSC were administered only. At the end of the expe riment all the rats were killed by exsanguination, the abdominal large vess els were cut under a light ether anesthesia and a complete autopsy was perf ormed. Percentage of animals developing colon tumors and number of tumors p er animals: group 1 - 0 and 0; group 2- 83.0 and 2.3; group 3 - 44.8 (P < 0 .001) and 1.3 (P < 0.004), group 4 - 0 and 0. All the tumors were of neopla stic nature also histologically. The numbers of the aberrant crypt foci (AC F) per area (cm(2)) in group 2 were 4.85 while in group 3 the ACF numbers w ere 2.03 only (P < 0.0001).