Effect of Perilla Oil Rich in $\alpha$-Linolenic Acid on Colon Tumor Incidence, Plasma Thromboxane B2 Level and Fatty Acid Profile of Colonic Mucosal Lipids in Chemical Carcinogen-Treated Rats

This study was designed to compare the effect of different dietary fats on the incidence of colorectal tumor, the level of plasma thromboxane B2(TXB2) and fatty acid profiles of platelet and colonic mucosal lipids in N - methyl - N - nitro - N - nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) - treated rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats, at 8 weeks old, were divided into 2 groups and infused intrarectally with saline(control group) or with 2mg MNNG(carcinogen-treated group) twice a week for 3 weeks. Each group was again divided into 4 groups and fed one of four diets(BT, CO, PO, FO) containing dietary fat at 9%(w/w) level for 37 weeks, Dietary fats were beef tallow(7.2%)+corn oil(1.8%) for BT, corn oil(9.0%) for CO, perilla oil(9.0%) for PO, fish oil (6.5%)+corn oil (2.5%) for FO diets. MNNG-treated rats had colonic tumor, while no tumors(adenocarcinoma and adenoma) than others. Tumor sizes in BT-MNNG rats ranged from 2mm papillary form to 15mm of polypoid. However, the size of tumors in PO-MNNG or FO-MNNG rats could not be measured by gross examination. BT-MNNG and CO-MNNG groups were higher in the level of plasma TXB2 and the ratio of c20 : 4/c20 :5 platelet. PO-MNNG groups were lower in the ratio of c20 : 4/c20 : 5(p<0.05) in fatty acid of colonic mucosal lipids suggesting that perilla oil and fish oil could reduce the level of PGE2 and TXB2 by modifying its precursor content and restrain tumor promotion in colon. Effect of perilla oil rich in $\alpha$-linolenic acid on colon carcinogenesis was similar to that of fish oil and thus perilla oil could have a protective effect against colon cancer possibly by inhibiting the production of arachidonic acid metabolite.