Red palm oil suppresses the formation of azoxymethane (AOM) induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in Fisher 344 male rats

Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Oct;44(10):1667-73. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2006.05.002. Epub 2006 May 17.

Abstract

Red palm oil (RPO) contains significant levels of carotenoids and Vitamin E. In this experiment we compared the inhibitory effects of RPO (7% and 14% levels) and soybean oil (7% and 14%) on azoxymethane (AOM) induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Thirty-two male Fisher 344 rats were randomly assigned to four groups. Two groups received AIN-93 G control (C) diet containing 7% and 14% soybean oil (SBO), respectively. Groups 3 and 4 received a treatment diet consisting of 7% and 14% RPO, respectively. The rats received subcutaneous injections of AOM at 16 mg/kg body weight at 7 and 8 weeks of age. At 17 weeks of age rats were killed by CO(2) asphyxiation. Numbers of ACF (mean+/-SE) in the proximal and distal colon were: 39.9 +/- 0.9, 53.8 +/- 2.8, 26.0 +/- 3.0, 27.5 +/- 1.5 and 118.2 +/- 1.7, 125.6 +/- 3.2, 41 +/- 7, 52.3 +/- 1.8 in rats fed 7% SBO, 14% SBO, 7% RPO and 14% RPO, respectively. The results of this study showed that RPO reduced the incidence of AOM induced ACF and may therefore have a beneficial effect in reducing the incidence of colon cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azoxymethane
  • Carotenoids / pharmacology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Male
  • Palm Oil
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Precancerous Conditions / chemically induced
  • Precancerous Conditions / prevention & control*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Soybean Oil / pharmacology
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Plant Oils
  • Vitamin E
  • Carotenoids
  • Palm Oil
  • Soybean Oil
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Azoxymethane