Fucoxanthin, a potent
carotenoid present in various natural sources especially from seaweeds; it exhibits several biological effects like anti-neoplastic, anti-mutagenic, anti-diabetic, anti-
obesity and anti-inflammatory actions.
Fucoxanthin role in
chemoprevention of
lung cancer in mouse model induced using
benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] has been presented here.
Oral administration of
fucoxanthin with and without B(a)P were studied, the results from our study shows that
fucoxanthin significantly decreased
tumor progression in mice exposed to B(a)P, the obtained data were correlated with increased
antioxidant, apoptosis and decreased tumour marker and anti-apoptotic molecules. With respect to apoptosis,
fucoxanthin treated animals shows increased apoptosis compared to
tumor induced mice by increased expression of
caspase 9 and 3 and decreased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl2
protein. Finally, histopathological and immuno histochemical analysis also revealed that
fucoxanthin shows potent
anticancer agent by bringing back the damaged tissue treated with B(a)P and also decreases the expression of
PCNA in
cancer induced mice. The anticancer effect of
fucoxanthin may be attributed by several independent mechanisms which play a important roles in the prevention of
cancer development, there is also substantial evidences to show that
fucoxanthin acts indirectly by increasing the
antioxidant capacity of affected tissue and prepared to cope up with oxidative stress which is proved in our study. Thus from our study it is clearly established that
fucoxanthin act as a persuasive anticancer drug against
lung cancer.