Dibenzoylmethane Altered Adipose Mass, Serum Lipid and Sex Steroid Hormone in Female Mice

CHUAN-CHUAN LIN1*, MOU-TUAN HUANG2 AND CHI-TANG HO3

1. Department of Food Science, China University of Science and Technology, 245 Yen-Chiu-Yuan Rd., Sec. 3, Nankang, Taipei 115,
Taiwan R.O.C.
2. Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, U.S.A.
3. Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, U.S.A.

(Received: December 29, 2009; Accepted: June 16, 2010)

ABSTRACT

Dibenzoylmethane (DBM), a β-diketone structural analogue of curcumin, has been reported to exhibit anti-tumorigenic and chemopreventive activities in mouse mammary tumorigenesis. Our previous study indicated that DBM modulates estrogenic action both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, the potential role of DBM as modulator of lipid metabolism in two mouse models was investigated. Several biomarkers and intermediate metabolites related to lipid consumption were measured. The results indicated that the parametrial fat pad weight, the level of triglyceride in both CD-1 and Sencar mice fed with 1% DBM, was remarkably reduced. In addition, the estradiol level, uterus and mammary gland weights were significantly decreased in CD-1 and young Sencar mice at
55 days of age (during the estrous phase of estrous cycle). The reduction of both estradiol level and triglyceride in serum would explain the inhibitory effect of DBM on mammary tumorigenesis as a modulator in dietary lipid metabolism.

Key words: dibenzoylmethane, lipid metabolism, triglyceride, estradiol, mammary tumorigenesis