Effects of Scrophularia Oxysepala Methanolic Extract on Early Stages of Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Colon Carcinoma in Rats: Apoptosis Pathway Approach

Abstract

Purpose: Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, worlwide. The present study aimed to examine the effects of Scrophularia Oxysepala (SO) methanolic extract on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced colon cancer model in the Wistar rats. Methods: The animals administered DMH (40 mg/kg/S.C.) biweekly for two weeks to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Other groups of animals were given the SO extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/orally once/day) either before or after the DMH treatments. In the end, all animals were killed and at necropsy, the colon samples examined. The ACF, Aberrant crypt (AC), crypt multiplicity (CM), caspase 3 protein and apoptosis measurement were performed. Results: The SO extract significantly (P<0.001) decreased the number of AC, ACF, and CM in all pre and post-treated groups and caused significant increases in Caspase 3 and apoptosis as compared to the DMH group. However, post-treated animals showed significantly more effective than pre-treatment groups. Methanolic extract of SO showed a chemopreventive potential, by effectively reducing the number of AC, ACF, and CM and increasing caspase 3 protein and apoptosis. Conclusion: One of the possible mechanisms might be involved in the induction of apoptosis through the caspase 3 mediated pathway.