Background: Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a key player in the process of carcinogenesis via regulating various steps, thus it is an attractive target for cancer therapy. Many medicinal plants and nutraceuticals can modulate NF-κB signaling pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the chemopreventive and immunomodulatory effect of garlic in 7, 12 Dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) induced oral carcinogenesis by assessing the expression of NF-κB.
Material and methods: DMBA was used to induce oral cancer in 75 male albino rats. The animals were randomized into five groups (1 control and 4 experimental groups). The control group received no DMBA nor garlic extract, the other groups received either DMBA, garlic extract alone or both of them.
Results: NF-κB immunoexpression revealed the highest values in group (2) and group (5) showing a highly significant difference.
Conclusion: The aqueous garlic extract could prevent oral cancer through inhibition of
NF-κB activation, where its effect is more pronounced in the initiation phase than the promotion and progression phases.