Antiproliferative and antioxidant potential of beta-ionone against benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice

Nowadays, in developing countries like India, incidence of lung cancer is increasing rapidly, and as a consequence it has become the most common cause of malignancy-associated death. This study is aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of beta-ionone (ION), a precursor for carotenoids against benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced lung carcinogenesis. B(a)P (50 mg/kg body weight, orally twice a week for 4 successive weeks)-induced lung cancer in mice was assessed both in tissue and serum in terms of increase LPO and tissue marker enzymes, such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, 5'-nucleotidase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and serum tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and neuron-specific enolase with concordant decrease in activities of tissue enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were observed on the treatment of ION (60 mg/kg body weight, orally twice a week for 16 weeks) significantly attenuated LPO and restored all cancer marker enzymes and antioxidants levels to near normal, which indicates the anticancer effect of ION. This was further confirmed by histological staining of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region and histopathological analysis of lung tissue, immunohistochemical and immunoblot analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Overall findings suggested that the ION effectively ameliorated the lung carcinogenesis, which is attributed to the antiproliferative and antioxidant potential through free radical scavenging property.