Evaluation of Chemopreventive Effects of <i>Acanthus ilicifolius</i> against Azoxymethane-Induced Aberrant Crypt Foci in the Rat Colon

<div><p>Background</p><p><i>Acanthus ilicifolius</i>, a mangrove medicinal plant, is traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases. The aim of this research is to assess the chemoprotective outcomes of <i>A. ilicifolius</i> ethanolic extract against azoxymethane (AOM) induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>In our study, rats were arranged in to five groups. Rats in the normal control group were given subcutaneous injections of normal saline once weekly for 2 weeks. The AOM control, reference and treatment groups were given subcutaneous injection of AOM, 15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 2 weeks each. The reference group was treated with 35 mg/kg 5-Fluorouracil via intraperitoneal injection once weekly for 8 weeks, and the treatment groups were administered by gavage with 250 and 500 mg/kg <i>A. ilicifolius</i> extract daily for 8 weeks. Both normal and AOM control groups received the vehicle; 10% Tween-20 only.</p><p>Rats treated with 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of <i>A. ilicifolius</i> extracts showed a decrease in the mean number of ACF by 65% and 53%, respectively. Those fed with <i>A. ilicifolius</i> showed significantly decreased multiplicity of ACF formations when compared with the results from the AOM control group. The 250 mg/kg <i>A. ilicifolius</i> treatment group showed significant decreases in lipid peroxidation MDA levels when compared with the AOM control group. In immunohistochemistry staining, the proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA)-positive cells were significantly higher in the AOM control group than in the <i>A. ilicifolius</i>-treated groups. RT-PCR showed that <i>A. ilicifolius</i> caused a change in the regulation of apoptosis-related genes expression.</p><p>Conclusion/Significance</p><p>The results of the current study show that AOM-treated rats receiving oral exposure to <i>A. ilicifolius</i> demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of ACF in the colon when compared to AOM-treated rats receiving vehicle only. <i>A ilicifolius</i> may be an effective herbal approach for the prevention of AOM-induced ACF in the rat colon.</p></div>