The Effects of Radix Curcumae Extract on Expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in Gastric Mucosa of Rats Fed with MNNG

Bin      Lu; Linfeng      Yu; Lei      Xu; Hanqing      Chen; Lu      Zhang; Yanjun      Zeng

doi:10.2174/138920110791111915

Abstract

Aim: To study the effects of an extract solution from radix curcumae on the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in gastric mucosa of rats during carcinogenesis induced MNNG. Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group A, water and normal saline; group B, MNNG and normal saline; group C, MNNG and celecoxib; group D, MNNG and low-dose (1g/ml) radix curcumae steam distillation extract solution; group E, MNNG and high-dose (2g/ml) radix curcumae wet distillation extract solution. In the end of the 40th week, all rats alive were sacrificed and the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in gastric mucosa were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression levels of VEGF and COX-2 and the optical density levels of PCNA in group C, D and E were remarkably lower than that of group B (P < 0.05), while the optical density levels of PCNA in group E were higher than that of group C and D (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The distilled extract of curcumae can down-regulate the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in the gastric mucosa of rats during carcinogenesis induced MNNG and can reduce the incidence of gastric caner, suggesting it maybe as a potential chemopreventive agent for gastric cancer.

Keywords: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), gastric cancer, N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), radix curcumae, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

« Previous