Nutrition and Cancer - ۱۹۹۱

Topical application of Nigella sativa and Crocus sativus extracts (common food spices) inhibited two‐stage initiation/promotion [dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/croton oil] skin carcinogenesis in mice. A dose of ۱۰۰ mg/kg body wt of these extracts delayed the onset of papilloma formation and reduced the mean number of papillomas per mouse, respectively. The possibility that these extracts could inhibit the action of ۲۰‐methylcholanthrene (MCA)‐induced soft tissue sarcomas was evaluated by studying the effect of these extracts on MCA‐induced soft tissue sarcomas in albino mice. Intraperitoneal administration of Nigella sativa (۱۰۰ mg/kg body wt) and oral administration of Crocus sativus (۱۰۰ mg/kg body wt) ۳۰ days after subcutaneous administration of MCA (۷۴۵ nmol × ۲ days) restricted tumor incidence to ۳۳.۳% and ۱۰%, respectively, compared with ۱۰۰% in MCA‐treated controls.