5-Demethylnobiletin is more effective than nobiletin in preventing AOM/DSS-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in ICR mice

Abstract

Nobiletin and 5-demethylnobiletin as polymethoxyflavone and hydroxy polymethoxyflavone, especially, have been reported to exhibit various beneficial biological activities for human health. In this study, the effects of NOB and 5-demethylnobiletin (DMNB), on azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice were compared. We found that NOB and DMNB significantly alleviated the weight loss, colon length and reduced colon tumor formation in AOM/DSS-induced colorectal carcinogenesis mice. At the molecular level, our results from western blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that 0.025% of NOB and DMNB presented an anti-inflammation property by reducing cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate that DMNB had a better chemo-preventive efficacy than NOB in AOM/DSS-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in ICR mice model.