Anticancer Activity of Acetone Extract of Quercus infectoria Olivier Fagaceae in 1,2 Dimethyl Hydrazine Induced Colon Cancer SciDoc Publishers | Open Access | Science Journals | Media Partners

Adenoma of colon and rectum (colorectal cancer)is one of the commonly occurring cancers reported to cause 655,000 deaths worldwide. It is fourth most common form of cancer in United States and third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world (WHO 2006, NCI 2009). In India also the inci -dence of colon cancer is very large. During a 32-year period (1941–1972), 555 cases of colorectal cancer were recorded at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai [1]. In contrast a total of 560 cases of colorectal cancer were treated at the same institution in 2006 alone. Colon cancer as compared to rectal cancer occurs more frequently as a result of mutations in the signaling pathway that artificially increases signaling activity. The mutations can be inherited or acquired and occur in the intestinal crypt stem cell [2]. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are putative preneoplastic lesions of colonic neoplasia in rodents and humans. During the process of colon carcinogenesis, ACF appears in the early stages and subsequently develop into polyps, adenomas and eventually carcinomas [3]. Hence ACF development is commonly used as a parameter for assessment of colorectal cancer even in animals. Current medical treatment in colon cancer consists of chemotherapy, hormonal treatment and targeted therapy. They are sophisticated, expensive and not widely available. Therefore, a search for novel anticancer agents from natural products may provide an alternative and cost-effective treatment modality [4]. The herbal drug Quercus infectoria is reputed plant in Ayurvedic system of medicine and commonly known as “Majuphul” in Ayurvedic literature. Tannins(gallotannic acid) is one of the main constituent found in the galls of Quercus infectoria in 50%-70%. Gallotannic acid which is official tannic acid which is known for its anti-mutagenic, anticancer and antioxidant properties [5]. In present investigation we have studied the anticancer potential of Q. infectoria using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer model in rats