Palm Carotene Inhibits Tumor–Promoting Activity of Bile Acids and Intestinal Carcinogenesis

The effects of palm carotene on chemical carcinogenesis was studied. Palm carotene suppressed mouse epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity induced by glycocholic acid. In a two-stage mouse epidermal carcinogenesis experiment using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene as the initiator, glycocholic acid as the 1st stage promoter, and mezerein as the 2nd stage promoter, palm carotene inhibited the promoting activity of glycocholic acid. Furthermore, in N-ethyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mouse duodenal carcinogenesis, 0.05% of palm carotene given in drinking water decreased the percentage of tumor-bearing mice significantly.