Mohammad Mashayekhi , Daryoush Mohajeri , Mohammad Reza Valilu,
Volume 72, Issue 5 (August 2014)
Abstract
Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent oral cancer. Protec-tive effects of the consumption of vegetables and fruits on various forms of cancer in-cluding oral cancer have been determined. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) because of its lycopene and bioflavonoids contents possesses anti-carcinogenic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of tomato pulp on pre-neoplastic changes induced by 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxid (4-NQO) in epithelial cells of lingual mucosa in the rats.
Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups. Group 1 served as control. Groups 2 to 4 assigned to receive 30 ppm 4-NQO in drinking water for 12 consecutive weeks. When the feeding of 4-NQO was started to the rats of groups 3 and 4, they received tomato pulp (20 and 40 ml/kg bw) daily through the oral gavage. Finally, histological evaluations for carcinogenesis were performed for tongues epithelial tissue.
Results: There were no pathological alterations in epithelial tissue of lingual mucosa in control rats. In the epithelial cells of lingual mucosa of 4-NQO treated rats, premalig-nant alterations appeared after 12 weeks of the last application of the drug. Administration of tomato pulp at both doses (20 and 40 ml/kg bw) during the experiment reduced the severity of the lesions, as well as caused a significant reduction in the frequency of pre-neoplastic lesions of tongue epithelial cells (P= 0.024 and P= 0.008). The incidence of severe epithelial cells dysplasia of lingual mucosa in the high dose treatment group was significantly smaller than of low dose treatment group (P= 0.037).
Conclusion: The results obtained showed that tomato pulp is effective in inhibiting the development of neoplasms in epithelial cells of lingual mucosa induced by 4-NQO in the rat.
