Oral Intake of Combined Natural Immunostimulants Suppresses the 7,12-DMBA/ Croton Oil Induced Two-step Skin Carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino Mice.

Background: The immune system is critical in fighting cancer, so is it possible that the natural stimulation of this system can slow down or stop the evolution of cancer? Our in vivo study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of the combination of five types of immunostimulants, which are Beta-glucan and Arabinogalactan as polysaccharides and three mushroom extracts (Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake), on 7,12-Dimethyl Benz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/ Croton oil-induced papilloma in Swiss albino mice.

Methodology: We used blood count analyses to estimate broadly the immunological reaction and biochemical techniques to determine the oxidative stress variations in the enzymatic activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Glutathion peroxidase (GPx), which could have a preventive function against cancer development.

Results: The cutaneous application of the DMBA/Croton oil caused precancerous hyperplasia in squamous cells (papilloma) on the back of the mice.