Inhibitory Effects of Feeding with Carrots or (−)-Falcarinol on Development of Azoxymethane-Induced Preneoplastic Lesions in the Rat Colon

Morten Kobk-Larsen,*† Lars P. Christensen,‡ Werner Vach,§ Jelmera Ritskes-Hoitinga,† and Kirsten Brandt
Biomedical Laboratory, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 23, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark, Department of Food Science, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Aarslev, Kirstinebjergvej 10, DK-5792 Aarslev, Denmark, Department of Statistics, University of Southern Denmark, Sdr. Boulevard 23A, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark, and School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Agriculture Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2005, 53 (5), pp 1823–1827
DOI: 10.1021/jf048519s
Publication Date (Web): February 5, 2005
Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society
*

 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel:  +45 65 50 37 21. Fax:  +45 65 90 68 21. E-mail:  mkobaek@health.sdu.dk.

,
†

 Biomedical Laboratory, University of Southern Denmark.

,
‡

 Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences.

,
§

 Department of Statistics, University of Southern Denmark.

,

 University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Abstract

The effects of intake of dietary amounts of carrot or corresponding amounts of (−)-(3R)-falcarinol from carrots on development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon preneoplastic lesions were examined in male BDIX rats. Three groups of eight AOM-treated rats were fed the standard rat feed Altromin supplemented with either 10% (w/w) freeze-dried carrots with a natural content of 35 μg falcarinol/g, 10% maize starch to which was added 35 μg falcarinol/g purified from carrots, or 10% maize starch (control). After 18 weeks, the animals were euthanized and the colon was examined for tumors and aberrant crypt foci (ACF), which were classified into four size classes. Although the number of small ACF was unaffected by the feeding treatments, the numbers of lesions as a function of increasing size class decreased significantly in the rats that received one of the two experimental treatments, as compared with the control treatment. This indicates that the dietary treatments with carrot and falcarinol delayed or retarded the development of large ACF and tumors. The present study provides a new perspective on the known epidemiological associations between high intake of carrots and reduced incidence of cancers.

Keywords: Daucus carota; aberrant crypt foci; (3R)-falcarinol; BDIX rats; natural toxicant; colon carcinogenesis

View: Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF

Tools

History

  • Published In Issue March 09, 2005
  • Received for review September 6, 2004. Revised manuscript received December 20, 2004. Accepted December 22, 2004. The support of the Danish Research Council for Agricultural and Veterinary Research, Danish Food Technology Initiative (FØTEK 3) Grant 2011-00-0040, and of the Development Centre Aarslev are gratefully acknowledged.

Recommend & Share

Related Content

Other ACS content by these authors: