Effects of Curcumin on N-bis(2-Hydroxypropyl) nitrosamine (DHPN)-induced Lung and Liver Tumorigenesis in BALB/c Mice In Vivo

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a phenolic compound from the plant Curcuma longa (Linn.) has been shown to exhibit antitumor activity and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines including that of lung and liver cancer. In this study, curcumin was evaluated in BALB/c mice for its ability to inhibit pulmonary and liver adenoma formation and growth after they were orally treated with N-bis(2-hydroxy-propyl)nitrosamine (DHPN). Animals were treated with DHPN in water for approximately 14 days before multiple doses of curcumin were given intraperitoneally. It was found that 200 μM curcumin reduced lung and liver tumor multiplicity by 37% (p