Chemopreventative effect of familial adenomatous polyposis and hyperlipidemia by Gynostemma pentaphyllum in ApcMin/+ mouse model

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCM) has been increasingly utilized to treat a wide variety of diseases in recent years. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Gp) Makino (Cucurbitaceae), a Southeast Asian herbal plant called jiao-gu-lan, has been reported to affect a numerous activities resulting in anti-tumor, lowering cholesterol, strengthening immune system, antioxidant and hypoglycermic effects in Chinese medicine literatures [1,2]. Previously, in our laboratory, we have shown that Gp has anti-cancer effects in our unique in vitro co-culture system [3]. In the present study, we investigate the chemo-preventative effects of Gp in Apc ^min/+ colorectal cancer mouse model. Apc ^min/+ is mouse model for human familial adenomatous polyposis development and it has been widely and extensively used for investigation of intestinal carcinogenesis and evaluation of anti-cancer and chemopreventive agents. Recently, it has also been found that Apc ^min/+ mice will develop hyperlipidemia starting at late stage of their age. Therefore, Apc ^min/+ mouse model can be used to investigate for both hyperlipidemia and intestinal polyps formation. In our chemopreventative study, treatment of Apc ^min/+ mice with 0.6% or 0.8% Gp in drinking water for 8 weeks from 6 weeks of age resulted in reduction of serum triglycerides 43% ♂/51% ♀ and cholesterol 10% ♂/28% ♀. On the other hand, Gp can also suppress 40% ♂/47% ♀ intestinal polyps formation compared with control group. The present study clearly demonstrated that Gp has chemoprevention effect towards colorectal cancer and hyperlipidemia by suppressing both triglycerides/cholesterol and intestinal polyps formation in Apc ^min/+ mice.

Acknowledgements: HKBU 260307awarded by Research Grant Council, HKSAR

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2. Wang et al. (2007) Planta Med 73: 535–44

3. Hsiao et al. (2004) Carcinogensis 25: 1177–83