Inhibitory effects of biochanin A on mouse lung tumor induced by benzo(a)pyrene.

Biochanin A, an isoflavone compound, is reported to have an inhibitory effect on benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] metabolism. We examined the modifying effect of biochanin A on in vivo carcinogenesis using a mouse lung tumor model. As carcinogens, a single subcutaneous injection of 0.5mg of B(a)P was given within 24 hours after birth. The test groups were injected with 0.125mg of biochanin A in 0.1ml DMSO by i.p. 3 times a week for 6 weeks after weaning. All mice were sacrificed at week 9 and the incidence and multiplicity of lung tumors were examined. Concomitant administration of biochanin A showed a significant inhibitory effect on the incidence of tumor-bearing mice (12.5%, P < 0.01), as well as the mean number of tumors (0.13, P < 0.001), compared with the group treated with B(a)P alone in which the incidence was 57.1% and the mean number was 1.0. These results suggest that biochanin A has inhibitory potential on the development of mouse lung tumor induced by B(a)P.