Abstract
Background: Zapotin, a flavonoid associated with Casimiroa edulis, was isolated as part of a program to discover natural inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Zapote blanco, the fruit of Casimiroa edulis, is consumed in many parts of the world. Zapotin is a non-toxic inducer of cellular differentiation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest with cultured HL-60 promyelocytic cells. Materials and Methods: An efficient chemical synthesis for zapotin was devised. Using this synthetic material, activity was examined in the two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Results: Topical zapotin significantly inhibited 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced mouse skin tumorigenesis, using the anti-initiation and anti-promotion protocols. Conclusion: Encouraging results from previous and current in vivo studies warrant further investigation of the chemopreventive activity of zapotin.
Footnotes
- Received July 22, 2008.
- Revision received September 17, 2008.
- Accepted October 2, 2008.
- Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved