Chemopreventive potential of geraniol in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.

The present study investigated the chemopreventive potential of geraniol, an acyclic monoterpene alcohol, by monitoring the tumor incidence and analyzing the status of phase II detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation by products and antioxidants in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mouse skin carcinogenesis. Skin tumor was developed by painting DMBA (25 microg in 0.1 ml acetone mouse(-1)) in the shaved back of the mice, twice weekly for 8 weeks. We noticed 100% skin tumor formation in mice treated with DMBA alone. The status of phase II detoxification agents and antioxidants were decreased where as lipid peroxidation by products were increased in tumor bearing mice. Oral administration of geraniol at a dose of 250 mg kg(-1) body weight significantly prevented the tumor formation as well as brought back the status of phase II detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation by products and antioxidants to near normal range in DMBAtreated mice. Present results suggest that geraniol might have inhibited abnormal cell proliferation occurring in skin carcinogenesis by modulating the activities of phase II detoxification agents and through its free radical scavenging potential.