Inhibitory effects of curcumin on tumor initiation by benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The effects of topical administration of curcumin on the formation of benzoa]pyrene (Ba]P)-DNA adducts and the tumorigenic activities of Ba]P and 7,12-dimethylbenza]anthracene (DMBA) in epidermis were evaluated in female CD-1 mice. Topical application of 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to the application of 20 nmol 3H]Ba]P inhibited the formation of 3H]Ba]P-DNA adducts in epidermis by 39 or 61% respectively. In a two-stage skin tumorigenesis model, topical application of 20 nmol Ba]P to the backs of mice once weekly for 10 weeks followed a week later by promotion with 15 nmol 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) twice weekly for 21 weeks resulted in the formation of 7.1 skin tumors per mouse, and 100% of the mice had tumors. In a parallel group of mice, in which the animals were treated with 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to each application of Ba]P, the number of tumors per mouse was decreased by 58 or 62% respectively. The percentage of tumor-bearing mice was decreased by 18-25%. In an additional study, topical application of 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to each application of 2 nmol DMBA once weekly for 10 weeks followed a week later by promotion with 15 nmol TPA twice weekly for 15 weeks decreased the number of tumors per mouse by 37 or 41% respectively.