Amelioration of Skin cancer in mice by β-carotene andPhenolics of Carrot (Daucus carota).

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a widely used nutritional source and is rich in β-carotene. Our previous work highlights the potential anticancer properties of phenolics from various dietary sources. The current study is designed to understand the relative levels of phenolics and β-carotene and their contribution to antioxidant (AOX), tyrosinase inhibitory (TI) and antiproliferative (AP) properties in UV-DMBA induced skin cancer in mice. Phenolic fractions of carrot - free (CRFP) and bound (CRBP) and β-carotene were extracted and quantitated by HPLC. AOX, TI and AP capacities of each of the phenolic acids of CRFP / CRBP and β-carotene were determined. DMBA followed by UV treatment was employed to induce skin cancer in mice. Different doses of CRFP, CRBP and β-carotene were evaluated for anticancer potency using tumor index, biochemical parameters and tumor markers in various groups of animals. Although same levels of β-carotene were present in CRFP and CRBP, a higher reduction in tumor formation (~ 2 folds), tyrosinase (~5 folds), galectin-3 (~18 folds) and increased antioxidant levels (~1-3 folds) in CRFP rather than in CRBP suggests that, in addition to β-carotene, the nature of other phenolic acids in CRFP do play a key role in anticancer property. Thus carrot with enriched levels of phenolics and β-carotene may be efficient in the prevention of skin cancer as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo.