Luteolin inhibits matrix metalloproteinase 9 and 2 in azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis

The present investigation deals with the antimetastatic role of luteolin (LUT) by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and -2 in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in Balb/C mice. Animals received AOM at a dosage of 15 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally once a week for 3 weeks. AOM-induced mice was treated with LUT (1.2 mg of LUT/kg body weight/day orally). After the experimental period, the tumor markers such as γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), 5′ nucleotidase (5′ND), cathepsin-D (Cat-D), and carcinoembroyonic antigen (CEA) were elevated upon induction with AOM. Subsequent treatment with LUT results in the reduction of the tumor markers was recorded. The expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence methods. The expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were increased during AOM induction and upon treatment with LUT reduced the expressions. RT-PCR analysis of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 was ...