Protective effect of Oxalis corniculate and Pteropyrum scoparium Leaves Extracts against Azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress and colon carcinogenesis

Abstract

Oxalis corniculate and Pteropyrum scoparium are two edible wild Omani plants with known preventive effects on various human diseases, yet their therapeutic role in colon cancer was not studied. Azoxymethane (AOM) is a common oxidizing agent that induces colon cancer in experimental animal models. In the current study, we examined the protective effect of Oxalis corniculate and Pteropyrum scoparium leaves extracts against AOM-induced cancer and oxidative stress in rat colon. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (10 rats/group). The Control group was fed a standard diet; the AOM-treated group was fed a standard diet and received an intraperitoneal injection of AOM at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight for each rat. The other four groups received intragastric intubation of Pteropyrum scoparium or Oxalis corniculate leaves extracts (0.1 mg extract/ 1 mL water/day) in the absence or presence of AOM injection. After 8 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and the colon tissues were dissected for Aberrant Crypt Foci (ACF) enumeration of cancer lesions development, and for measurements of glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and DNA oxidative damage. Our results showed that the AOM-injected rats showed a significant increased level of DNA oxidative damage, lower levels of GSH and TAC, and higher ACF as compared to the control group. Oxalis corniculate and Pteropyrum scoparium leaves extracts significantly suppressed the oxidative damage associated with AOM injection and mitigated its carcinogenic effect in rat colon. Both Oxalis corniculate and Pteropyrum scoparium leaves extracts act as potent antioxidants and combat the AOM-associated oxidative stress and colon carcinogenesis. The data from this study suggest that dietary supplementation of these two wild plants might be applied as a therapeutic agent for colon cancer treatment.