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Cancer modulating properties of unique South African herbal teas (rooibos and honeybush) in short term in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis assays

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis provides the first scientific evidence on the cancer modulating properties of
two unique South African herbal teas, rooibos (Aspalathus Iinearis) and honeybush
(Cyclopia intermedia) utilizing in vitro as well as in vivo carcinogenesis assays by:
• Demonstrating the in vitro antimutagenic activity of aqueous extracts of the
herbal teas against the metabolic activated mutagens, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-
AAF) and the mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1 (AFB,) as well as, to a certain extent,
against the direct acting mutagen, hydrogen peroxide, utilizing the Salmonella
typhimurium mutagenicity assay.
• Increasing the activity of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes, glutathione Stransferase
alpha and UPD-glucuronosyl transferase, and reduced the oxidative
stress by stabilizing the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) resulting in an
increased hepatic reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSG:GSSG). No toxic
effects were noticed in rats consuming the herbal teas for 10 weeks as their sole
source of drinking fluid.
• Demonstrating the ex vivo modulation of 2-AAF- and AFB1-induced mutagenesis
by sub- cellular hepatic fractions of rats consuming the herbal teas in the
Salmonella mutagenicity assay. Hepatic cytosolic fractions protected against
mutagenesis of both mutagens, while the microsomal fractions exhibited a
reduced capacity to metabolize AFB1 to its active mutagenic metabolite.
• Providing evidence for the in vivo modulation of tumour promotion using the liver
as well as the two-stage skin carcinogenesis animal models. The unprocessed
herbal teas arrested proliferation of the placental form of glutathione-Stransferase
(GSTP+) altered cells as well as reduced the total number of enzyme
altered foci in the liver of rats. Topical application of polyphenolic fractions of the
various herbal teas prior to 12-0-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) tumour
promotion, reduced tumour formation in mouse skin initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[
ajanthracene (DMBA). The protective effect was illustrated by a decreased
tumour incidence, a reduction in tumour volume as well as a delayed onset of tumour development. The f1avanol/proanthocyanidin content of the fractions
could playa major role in the protection against skin tumour promotion.
• Proposing possible mechanisms whereby rooibos and honeybush herbal teas
could exert their cancer modulating properties with respect to in vitro and ex vivo
antimutagenicity, in vivo oxidative status and reduced tumour promotion.
• Providing evidence that the herbal teas mimic the cancer modulating properties
of green and black teas although differences exist, presumably due to differences
in the polyphenolic constituents.
• Suggesting that rooibos and honeybush herbal teas may play an important role
as chemopreventive agents in the modulation of cancer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bevat die eerste ondersoek na die effek van waterige en polifenoliese
ekstrakte van rooibos (Aspalathus Iinearis) en heuningbos (Cyclopia intermedia) op
verskeie aspekte van kankerontwikkeling. Die twee kruietees is uniek aan Suid-Afrika
en kan 'n belangrike rol speel in die voorkoming van kanker. Verskillende in vitro so wei
as in vivo studies het die volgende getoon:
• Antimutageniese aktiwiteite teen die metabolies-geaktiveerde mutagene, 2-
asetielaminofluoreen (2-AAF) en die mikotoksien, aflatoksien B1 (AFB1) in die
Salmonella fyphimurium mutagenisiteitstoets. 'n Beperkte mate van beskerming
is ook verleen teen die oksidatiewe mutageen, waterstofperoksied, sonder
metaboliese aktivering.
• Verhoogde aktiwiteite van die fase II ensieme, glutatioon S-tranferase alfa en
UDP-glukuronidase, wat liggaamsvreemde verbindings metaboliseer. Die
kruietees verlaag die oksidasietoestand soos weerspieel word deur 'n toename
van gereduseerde glutatioon tot die geoksideerde vorm in die lewer van rotte wat
10 weke hierdie kruietees gedrink he!. Die kruietees het geen toksiese uitwerking
op die rotte gehad nie.
• Antimutageniese aktiwiteite van subselluiE~re fraksies van die lewer teenoor 2-
AAF en AFB1 in die Salmonella toets. Die sitosolfraksie van die rotlewer bied
beskerming teen die ge"induseerde mutagenese van beide mutagene, terwyl die
mikrosomale fraksie ook die metaboliese aktivering van AFB1 na die aktiewe
mutageniese metaboliet verminder.
• In vivo modulering van kankerpromosie met behulp van bekende rotlewer en
muisvel kankerontwikkelingsmodelle. In die lewermodel het die
ongeprosesseerde kruietees beide die ontwikkeling en getal van GSTP+ fokusse
onderskeidelik vertraag en verminder. In die geval van die velkankermodel het
aanwending van polifenoliese fraksies van die kruietees beskerming gebied teen
die ontwikkeling van velkankers by muise. Die aantal en grootte van die tumors
het afgeneem terwyl die verskyning daarvan ook vertraag is. • Verskeie meganismes waardeur rooibos- en heuningboslee moonllik kanker kan
moduleer word voorgeslel. Verskille in die polifenoliese sameslelling asook hul
onderskeie konsenlrasies kan 'n belangrike rol speel in die kankerveranderende
effekle van die lees.
• Oal gereelde inname van rooibos- en/of heuningboslee moonllik 'n belangrike rol
kan speel in die voorkoming van dieel- en omgewings-geYnduseerde kankers.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/21888
Date12 1900
CreatorsMarnewick, Jeanine Lucasta
ContributorsGelderblom, W.C.A., Swart, P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Biochemistry.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxiv, 233 leaves : ill. (some col.)
RightsStellenbosch University

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