Effect of gallic acid on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis in Wistar rats – A chemopreventive approach

Colon cancer risk may be influenced by phase I and II xenobiotic–metabolizing enzyme systems. The chemopreventive agent gallic acid (GA), a plant polyphenol, is found in various natural products. Our aim was to evaluate the potential role of GA on drug-metabolizing enzymes in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) induced rat colon carcinogenesis. The total experimental duration was 30 weeks. The effect of GA (50 mg/kg b.w.) on the activities of phase I enzymes (cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5) and phase II enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) were assessed in the liver and colonic mucosa and the colons were also examined visually. In DMH induced rats, there was a decrease in the activities of phase II enzymes and an increase in the activities of phase I enzymes. On GA supplementation, there was a significant increase in the activities of phase II enzymes and a significant decrease in the activities of phase I enzymes, in addition to the decreased tumor incidence. Histopathological changes also confirm this. Thus, the marked potential of GA in modulating the phase I and II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes suggests that GA may have a major impact on colon cancer chemoprevention.