Effect of resveratrol and quercetin alone and in combination on induction of apoptosis and cell proliferation in rat experimental colon carcinoma

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world. Colone cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and the second most common cancer in Iran. One of the major problems in treating cancer is that recent therapies for advanced colon cancer can have deleterious effects on the health of the patient. Regarding the fact that the two main symptoms of cancer cells are malformation in cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis, natural herbal components are the most reliable compounds (due to lack of toxicity) in monitoring cancer. Among the cancer-preventing agents with a chemical mechanism that can reduce the risk of cancer, phytochemicals are the most effective. One of these compounds is resveratrol (3, 4, and 5-trihydroxy trans-acetylben) and the other is quercetin, which has many biological effects in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Based on this and due to controversial reports on the efficacy of resveratrol and quercetin in various stages of cancer, and also lack of studies that investigate the simultaneous effect of these two compounds on colon cancer in the in vivo environment, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of resveratrol and quercetin on colon cancer in an animal model. Materials and Methods: This study was designed. Fifty five rats were randomly assigned into five groups: positive control , negative control, resveratrol, quercetin and their combination . All animals received Azotoxin Methane 15 mg / kg s.c once a week for two weeks. To investigate the protective effects of resveratrol (8 mg / kg, sc) and quercetin (10 mg / kg, sc) on the second week of the study (2 weeks before the onset of carcinogenesis) up to week 19 (14 weeks after the last injection of azoxime methane). At the end of the histopathologic and immunohistochemistry tests, the colon tissue was removed for analysis. Results: The findings of the histopathologic and immunohistochemistry tests were presented as mean ± standard error (mean ± SD), and the mean comparison between the groups with Kruskal-Wallis test with respect to resveratrol and quercetin supplementation was considered to be significant P<0.05 was done. The cytological and morphological changes of healthy cells were significantly lower than those of other groups, which indicates the carcinogens of methane azotox. The simultaneous use of these two supplements in comparison to their use alone reduced the cytological changes in the cancer cells in the colon. The expression of M30 was significantly higher in the group of resveratrol and quercetin compounds. Also, the AgNOR number in the group of resveratrol and quercetin compounds was significantly lower. Conclusion: Positive results of this study indicate the potential anticancer effects of co-administration of resveratol and vcosterine in an animal model. It is suggested that more extensive research into human models of the synergistic effects of these two phytochemicals should be further studied so that these results may lead to the progression of colon cancer.