Herbal Honey Preparations of Curcuma Xanthorriza and Black Cumin Protect against Carcinogenesis through Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Activities in Sprague Dawley (SD) Rats Induced with Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, Curcuma xanthorriza (CX), black cumin seed (BC), and honey have been used by the Indonesian people as medicinal ingredients to treat various health symptoms. CX extracts and BC have been proven in the laboratory as chemopreventive agents, antioxidants, and immunomodulators. In this study, we developed CX extract, BC oil, and honey into herbal honey preparations (CXBCH) and hypothesized that the preparations show chemopreventive activity. The purpose of the study was to determine the CXBCH potential as chemopreventive, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory. METHOD: In this experimental laboratory research, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic activities were tested on human mammary cancer cell lines (T47D cells) while the chemopreventive activity of the CXBCH preparations on Sprague Dawley (SD) rats induced with dimethylbenzene(a)anthracene (DMBA). RESULTS: CXBCH preparations demonstrated immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities in T47D, Hela, and HTB-183 cells and in DMBA-induced SD rats, as the preparations inhibited tumor nodule formation, increased the number of CD4, CD8 and CD4CD25 cells, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, and decreased serum NO levels. CONCLUSIONS: CXBCH preparations display chemopreventive, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.

Correlation Between Superoxide Dismutase Serum Level Alteration with Neck Metastatic Tumor Post Cisplatin-Paclitaxel Chemotherapy Response in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor in the nasopharynx. The patients treated with neoadjuvan combination chemotherapy cisplatin-paclitaxel while waiting a radiotherapy. This combination can produce a very high reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Our body has a protective mechanism against oxidant through superoxide dismutase (SOD) that can inhibit DNA chain damage from ROS induction produced by chemotherapy in NPC patients. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between SOD level alteration with neck metastatic tumor response after cisplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy. This was a cohort study. Thirty samples examined for neck metastasis tumor volume (VTM) and serum SOD were examined with ELISA pre- and postchemotherapy. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Mean SOD serum level pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy were was 179.5 and 209.1, respectively. Mean tumor metastaic volume pre and post chemotherapy were 127.3 and 62.7, respectively. The correlation test with the result (r) 0.180 and p = 0.340. There was no correlation between SOD serum level alteration with VTM volume post cisplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy in NPC patients.