Inhibition of Tumor Formation and Changes in Hepatic Enzyme Activities by Kimchi Extracts in Sarcoma-180 Cell Transplanted Mice

Inhibitory effects of the methanol extract, hexane extract, methanol soluble fraction (MSF) and juice from 3 weeks fermented Kimchi on the tumor formation in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice were studied. Effects of the solvent extracts and juice of the Kimchi on the levels of lipid peroxide, glutathione, and the enzyme activities of the liver were also investigated in normal and sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice. At 32 days following trans-plantation, MSF reduced the tumor formation by 54% compared with the control group, resulting in the smallest tumor weight. Lipid peroxided content in liver increased by the transplantation of sarcoma-180 cells. However, it decreased when MSF of Kimchi was treated to the mice. MSF also suppressed xanthine oxidase activity in cytosol of the liver cells in mice transplanted by sarcoma-180 cells. Kimchi extracts had no inhibitory effect on hepatic aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity in sarcoma-180 cell transplanted or normal mice. Methanol extract and hexane extract of Kimchi slightly increased hepatic glutathione contents in sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice. The injection of MSF from Kimchi markedly increased glutathione levels in the liver of sarcoma-180 treated mice compared to the controls. The MSF recovered the activities of hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase that decreased by the injection of sarcoma-180 cells. These results showed that MSF of Kimchi could suppress the growth of tumors, inhibiting lipid peroxide production and xanthine oxidase activity, in mice. We also suggested that Kimchi extract might play an important role in the prevention of cancer by enhancement of the glutathione level itself as well as via glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase.