Comparison of the inhibitory effects of monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric procyanidins on the biochemical markers of skin tumor promotion in mouse epidermis in vivo.

Several procyanidin dimers and an epicatechin trimer purified from Douglas fir bark tannins were compared with their monomer components (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin for their abilities to inhibit the biochemical effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. Topical applications of the procyanidins, 15 min before the tumor promoter, inhibit TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and this inhibition increases with the degree of polymerization (trimer > dimer > monomer). At a dose of 10 mumol, all procyanidin dimers inhibit the ODC response to TPA to a greater degree than 20 mumol of epicatechin and 10 mumol of epicatechin and/or catechin. Under similar conditions, catechin and epicatechin fail to inhibit the hydroperoxide (HPx) response to TPA whereas the procyanidin dimers inhibit this response by almost 40%. At a dose of 10 mumol, the epicatechin trimer also inhibits TPA-induced ODC activity and HPx production to a greater degree than 10-30 mumol of epicatechin. However, these various treatments with monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric procyanidins do not differ significantly in their abilities to inhibit TPA-stimulated DNA synthesis. These results suggest that some of the antitumor-promoting effects of procyanidins might increase at the biflavanoid and triflavanoid levels.

Ability of the non-phorbol ester-type tumor-promoter thapsigargin to mimic the stimulatory effects of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on ornithine decarboxylase activity, hydroperoxide production, and macromolecule synthesis in mouse epidermis in vivo.

The biochemical effects of the non-12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoter thapsigargin (TG), which does not bind to the phorbol-ester receptor, or activate protein kinase C (PKC) or increase inositol polyphosphates, were characterized in mouse epidermis in vivo. The cold scraping method is required to detect the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by TG, a response much smaller than that caused by TPA and with a different time course. TG pre-treatments do not alter or cause a refractory state against ODC induction by TPA. But TG stimulates hydroperoxide (HPx) production and RNA, protein, and DNA synthesis almost as much as TPA. Moreover, the sequential effects of TG and TPA on DNA synthesis are identical: early inhibition at 8 hr followed by maximal stimulation at 16-32 hr. TG-stimulated HPx production requires protein synthesis and xanthine oxidase, phospholipase A2, and lipoxygenase activities but not RNA and DNA synthesis, and cyclooxygenase and protease activities. The HPx response to TG is not mimicked by the PKC activator prostratin or inhibited by pre-treatments with prostratin or specific PKC inhibitors. However, the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid and the Ca2+ ionophore and weak ODC inducer A23187 mimic remarkably the HPx responses to TG and TPA. Since TG and A23187 are known to be, respectively, weak and incomplete tumor promoters as compared with TPA, the present results suggest that the HPx responses common to Ca(2+)-mobilizing and TPA- or non-TPA-type agents are insufficient to achieve tumor promotion in the absence of major ODC induction.

Inhibitory effects of semisynthetic flavonoid derivatives on the biochemical markers of tumor promotion in mouse epidermis in vivo.

Two sets of flavonoid derivatives were synthesized from condensed tannins (CTs) or catechin, and compared with the procyanidin monomer models, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, for their abilities to inhibit the biochemical effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. Topical applications of the semisynthetic flavonoids, catechin dialkyl ketals and epicatechin-4-alkylsulphides inhibit TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity to a much greater degree than catechin or epicatechin. Moreover, they reduce TPA-stimulated hydroperoxide (HPx) production, a response that cannot be inhibited by catechin or epicatechin. These compounds also inhibit the sequential stimulations of protein and DNA synthesis linked to TPA promotion. The remarkable effectiveness of these synthetic compounds, especially against the ODC marker of skin tumor promotion, suggests that they may be effective anti-tumor promoters.

Antitumor-promoting effects of gallotannins extracted from various sources in mouse skin in vivo.

Sumach leaf, Aleppo gall, Tara pod and commercial tannic acids (TAs) were tested topically for their ability to inhibit the biochemical and biological effects of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. These TAs all inhibit to various degrees ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction, hydroperoxide (HPx) production and the sequential stimulation of RNA, protein and DNA synthesis linked to TPA promotion. When applied before each promotion treatment, these TAs all inhibit complete tumor promotion by TPA. Sumach leaf TA is the most effective. TAs applied 24h after TPA inhibit HPx production but not tumor promotion, since ODC activity and DNA synthesis have already been stimulated. However, these TA post-treatments enhance the antioxidant and antitumor-promoting effects of TA pretreatments. TAs inhibit the 2nd rather than the 1st stage of tumor promotion. Plant TAs, therefore, may be valuable against tumor propagation but their efficacy may vary considerably depending on their origin.

Hydrolyzable tannins: potent inhibitors of hydroperoxide production and tumor promotion in mouse skin treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in vivo.

The anti-oxidant and the anti-tumor-promotion activities of several hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), including a commercial tannic-acid (TA) mixture, were examined in mouse skin treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in vivo. A single application of TPA gradually increases the hydroperoxide (HPx)-producing activity of the epidermis, which is maximally stimulated at 3 days and returns to control levels at 9 days. Pre-treatments with TA and ellagic acid (EA) strongly inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner, this HPx response to TPA. Total inhibition by TA lasts for about 16 hr, beyond which it is substantially reduced but not completely lost. TA can also reduce the level of epidermal HPx when it is applied 36 hr after the tumor promoter. EA is an antioxidant 10 times more potent than TA and n-propyl gallate (PG), which are equally effective against TPA-induced HPx production. Gallic acid is the least effective of the HTs in inhibiting HPx formation. TA also inhibits the production of HPx induced by several structurally different tumor promoters and the greater HPx responses produced by repeated TPA treatments. When applied 20 min before each promotion treatment, twice a week for 45 weeks, several HTs inhibit the incidence and yield of papillomas and carcinomas promoted by TPA in initiated skin. Overall, TA is more effective than EA and PG in inhibiting skin-tumor promotion by TPA, suggesting that the anti-oxidant effects of HTs are essential but not sufficient for their anti-tumor-promotion activity.

Antitumor-promoting activities of hydrolyzable tannins in mouse skin.

Ellagic acid and gallic acid and its derivatives, applied topically to female CF-1 mice 20 min before each 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment inhibit the inductions of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity, hydroperoxide production and DNA synthesis caused by this potent tumor promoter in relation with their abilities to inhibit the promotion of skin papillomas and carcinomas in the two-step initiation-promotion protocol. Because of its potency against TPA promotion, tannic acid, which is already known to inhibit tumor initiation, may inhibit the multistage process of carcinogenesis.

Antitumor-promoting activities of tannic acid, ellagic acid, and several gallic acid derivatives in mouse skin.

Naturally occurring plant phenols with antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities were tested for their abilities to inhibit the biochemical and biological effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. When applied topically to mouse skin, tannic acid (TA), ellagic acid, and several gallic acid derivatives all inhibit TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity, hydroperoxide production, and DNA synthesis, three biochemical markers of skin tumor promotion. Moreover, in the two-step initiation-promotion protocol, the same phenolic compounds also inhibit the incidence and yield of skin tumors promoted by TPA. TA is the most effective of these treatments. Since they are already known to inhibit tumor initiation, the plant phenols protecting against skin tumor promotion by TPA may be universal inhibitors of multistage carcinogenesis. TA and other polyphenols, therefore, might be valuable in cancer therapy and/or prevention.

Inhibition of tumor promoter-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity by tannic acid and other polyphenols in mouse epidermis in vivo.

Naturally occurring plant phenols with antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities were tested for their abilities to inhibit the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) response linked to skin tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Topical applications of tannic acid (TA) inhibit remarkably and in a dose-dependent manner TPA-induced ODC activity in mouse epidermis in vivo. This inhibitory effect of TA is dependent on the time of its administration relative to TPA. The induction of epidermal ODC activity by 8.5 nmol of TPA is inhibited maximally when 20 mumol of TA are applied topically to the skin 20 min before the tumor promoter. Gallic acid and several of its derivatives inhibit the ODC response to TPA to a lesser degree than TA. Ellagic acid is the least effective inhibitor tested. TA also inhibits the ODC-inducing activities of several structurally different tumor promoters and the greater ODC responses produced by repeated TPA treatments. The ability of TA to inhibit by 85% the ODC marker of skin tumor promotion suggests that TA and other polyphenols may be effective not only against tumor initiation and complete carcinogenesis but also against the promotion phase of tumorigenesis.