Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Digestive Diseases and Sciences https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-018-4949-z ORIGINAL ARTICLE Chemoprevention by Probiotics During 1,2‑Dimethylhydrazine‑Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats Sohini Walia 1  · Rozy Kamal 2  · D. K. Dhawan 3  · S. S. Kanwar 1 Received: 3 January 2017 / Accepted: 23 January 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Background Probiotics are believed to have properties that lower the risk of colon cancer. However, the mechanisms by which they exert their benefcial efects are relatively unknown. Aim To assess the impact of probiotics in preventing induction of colon carcinogenesis in rats. Methods The rats were divided into six groups viz., normal control, Lactobacillus plantarum (AdF10)-treated, Lactobacil- lus rhamnosus GG (LGG)-treated, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated, L. plantarum (AdF10) + DMH-treated and L. rhamnosus GG (LGG) + DMH-treated. Both the probiotics were supplemented daily at a dose of 2 × 10 10 cells per day. DMH at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight was administered subcutaneously twice a week for the frst 4 weeks and then once every week for a duration of 16 weeks. Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase as protein expression of genes involved in apoptosis were assessed during DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Results DMH treatment decreased the activity of GSH, GPx, GST, SOD and catalase. However, AdF10 and LGG sup- plementation to DMH-treated rats signifcantly increased the activity of these enzymes. Further, DMH treatment revealed alterations in the protein expressions of various genes involved in the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway such as p53, p21, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3, which, however, were shifted towards normal control levels upon simultaneous sup- plementation with probiotics. Conclusion The present study suggests that probiotics can provide protection against oxidative stress and apoptotic-related protein disregulation during experimentally induced colon carcinogenesis. Keywords Probiotics · Colon cancer · Apoptosis · Oxidative stress · Animal model Introduction Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of malig- nant disease worldwide with approximately 1 million cases registered in 2008 [1]. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the available treatments for colon cancer, their success rates vary with regard to local recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival [2]. Therefore, much attention has been focused on decreasing cancer risk through diet management, particularly by increasing dietary intake of probiotics. However, risk management by using probiotics is another option which warrants consideration. Probiotics are live microorganisms which benefcially afect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance [3]. There are a number of evidences to support the efcacy of certain probiotic interventions in improving acute infectious diarrhoea, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, pouchitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease [4, 5]. In addition, a possible role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as a dietary supplement in the prevention of colon cancer has received some attention. The diferent actions which have been attributed to the anti-carcinogenic potential of probiotic bacteria are binding and degradation of carcino- gens, prevention of DNA damage, stimulation of protective enzymes, augmentation in immune response, and production * S. S. Kanwar sskanwar1956@gmail.com 1 Department of Microbiology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, HP 176062, India 2 Centre for Nuclear Medicine, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India 3 Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India