Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene induced lung adenoma by panax ginseng extract, EFLA400, in Swiss albino mice.

In the present investigation the chemopreventive action of Panax ginseng extract, EFLA400, in Swiss albino mice has been evaluated. We used a 9-week medium term anticarcinogenicity test model of lung adenomas [Yun et al.1)]. Lung adenomas were induced by single subcutaneous injection in the subscapular region with 0.02 ml of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) (0.5 mg suspension in 1% aqueous gelatin) in newborn mice (less than 24 h old). Also chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei induction were evaluated in bone marrow cells. These genotoxicity end-points were compared with adenoma incidence at the same dose levels of BP and EFLA400. The oral administration of EFLA400 (10 mg/kg body weight) showed significant reduction in number of adenomas and weight of the lungs induced by BP. A significant reduction (p<0.001) in lung adenoma incidence in EFLA400-treated mice was observed as compared to the 68.3+/-2.96% lung adenoma incidence in BP-alone group. The inhibition rate was 72.05+/-1.36% in EFLA400-treated group with respect to the reference group (BP-alone group). However, tumor multiplicity was observed as 0.91+/-0.08 and 0.25+/-0.01 in BP alone and BP+EFLA400-treated groups respectively. In EFLA400-treated group significantly reduced frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei induced by BP were observed. The results of the present investigation suggest the chemopreventive action and antimutagenic effect of EFLA400 in Swiss albino mice induced by BP in newborn mice.