RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effects of α-Santalol on Proapoptotic Caspases and p53 Expression in UVB Irradiated Mouse Skin JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 129 OP 132 VO 28 IS 1A A1 BHANU L. ARASADA A1 AJAY BOMMAREDDY A1 XIAOYING ZHANG A1 KATHRYN BREMMON A1 CHANDRADHAR DWIVEDI YR 2008 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/1A/129.abstract AB Background: Cancer chemoprevention by naturally occurring agents, especially phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins has shown promising results against various malignancies in a number of studies both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. One such phytochemical, α-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, is effective in preventing skin cancer in both chemically and UVB-induced skin cancer development in CD-1, SENCAR and SKH-1 mice; however, the mechanism of its efficacy is not fully understood. The objective of the present investigation was to study the effects of α-santalol on apoptosis proteins and p53 in UVB-induced skin tumor development in SKH-1 mice to elucidate the mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: Female SKH-1 mice were divided into two groups: Group 1, which served as control received topical application of acetone (0.1 ml) one hour before UVB treatment; Group 2 received α-santalol (0.1 ml, 5% w/v in acetone, topical) one hour prior to UVB treatment. UVB-induced promotion was continued for 30 weeks. Results: Pretreatment with α-santalol one hour prior to UVB exposure significantly (p<0.05) reduced tumor incidence and multiplicity, and resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase in apoptosis proteins, caspase-3 and -8 levels and tumor suppressor protein, p53. Conclusion: These results suggest that α-santalol prevents skin cancer development by inducing proapoptotic proteins via an extrinsic pathway and increasing p53.