Effects of alpha-santalol on proapoptotic caspases and p53 expression in UVB irradiated mouse skin

Arasada BL, Bommareddy A, Zhang X, Bremmon K, Dwivedi C
Anticancer Research, 2008


ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

Cancer chemoprevention by naturally occurring agents, especially phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins has shown promising results against various malignancies in a number of studies both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. One such phytochemical, alpha-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, is effective in preventing skin cancer in both chemically and UVB-induced skin cancer development in CD-1, SENCAR and SKH-1 mice; however, the mechanism of its efficacy is not fully understood. The objective of the present investigation was to study the effects of alpha-santalol on apoptosis proteins and p53 in UVB-induced skin tumor development in SKH-1 mice to elucidate the mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Female SKH-1 mice were divided into two groups: Group 1, which served as control received topical application of acetone (0.1 ml) one hour before UVB treatment; Group 2 received alpha-santalol (0.1 ml, 5% w/v in acetone, topical) one hour prior to UVB treatment. UVB-induced promotion was continued for 30 weeks.

RESULTS:

Pre-treatment with alpha-santalol one hour prior to UVB exposure significantly (p < 0.05) reduced tumor incidence and multiplicity, and resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in apoptosis proteins, caspase-3 and -8 levels and tumor suppressor protein, p53.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that alpha-santalol prevents skin cancer development by inducing proapoptotic proteins via an extrinsic pathway and increasing p53.

CITATION:

Arasada BL, Bommareddy A, Zhang X, et al. Effects of alpha-santalol on proapoptotic caspases and p53 expression in UVB irradiated mouse skin. Anticancer Res. 2008;28(1A):129-132.


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