The potency of essential nutrient taurine on boosting the antioxidant status and chemopreventive effect against benzo (a)pyrene induced experimental lung cancer

Lung cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide both in men and women accounting for 29% of all other cancers. The constituents of smoke consist of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene which play a major role in lung carcinogenesis. B(a)P increases oncogenic stimulation by enhancing intrinsic ROS stress and metabolic activity. Recent focus of cancer chemoprevention is on the supplementation of natural anti-oxidants which are capable of ameliorating biochemical and molecular changes that occur during carcinogenesis. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a sulfur-containing β-amino acid abundant in sea foods has potent antioxidant property. The present study was framed to investigate the potency of taurine on boosting the antioxidant status and chemopreventive effect against benzo(a)pyrene induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. Administration of B(a)P (50 mg/kg body weight) to mice resulted in decrease in the activities of enzymic and non-enzymic anti-oxidants with concomitant increase in lipid peroxides (LPO), protein carbonyls and lung specific tumor markers. Taurine supplementation (100 mg/kg body weight) significantly attenuated these alterations. From these results, we suggest that administration of B(a)P induces ROS production and diminishes antioxidant levels. Conversely, taurine affords protection from ROS induced lung damage by augmenting the function of anti-oxidants.