oleuropein and Tongue-Neoplasms

Olive leaf extract provides nutritional support for detoxification at the cellular level, when the body is under stress. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of oleuropein-rich extract (ORE) on 4-NQO-induced rat tongue carcinogenesis. Eighty male F344 rats, 6 weeks age were divided into 5 groups (10 animals each for groups 1 and 2 and 20 each for groups 3, 4, and 5). Group 1 served as an untreated control. Group 2 was given ORE-containing diet alone. Rats of groups 3, 4, and 5 were given daily 20 ppm 4-NQO in drinking water for 8 weeks. Group 4 was fed diets containing ORE, concomitantly with the time of carcinogen exposure and continued 1 week after its stoppage. Group 5 was fed diets mixed with ORE starting 1 week after cessation of 4-NQO treatment. The experiment was terminated when the rats aged 37 weeks, and all animals were euthanized. The tongues were carefully inspected for pathological lesions, excised, and were processed for c-Met and Ki-67 immunohistochemical examination. The gross inspection, histopathological and immunohistochemical results of the present study showed a beneficial regression effect of ORE on tumor progression, especially when it was administered concomitantly with 4-NQO rather than when given after the stoppage of the carcinogenic material. In conclusion, ORE has a chemopreventive role in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and further studies are needed to explore the molecular mechanisms of its tumor suppressive effect at this level.

Topics: 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antioxidants; Carcinogens; Immunohistochemistry; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Ki-67 Antigen; Male; Olea; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; Pyrans; Quinolones; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Tongue Neoplasms