The aim of the present study is to elucidate the protective effect of Carissa Carandas fruit extract (CCE) on skin carcinogenesis induced by a single topical application of 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (100 μg/100 μl of acetone) and after 2 weeks repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/three times a week) till the end of the experiment (i.e. 16 weeks). Oral administration of CCE at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.wt./day during Peri initiational stage (i.e. 7 days before & 7 days after DMBA application followed by croton oil till the end of experiment; Group IV) and Post initiational stage (from the day of croton oil treatment till the end of the experiment; Group V) reduced tumor burden, tumor yield, cumulative number of papilloma as compared to DMBA/croton oil treated group (Group III) . Group IV and V showed a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation along with an elevation in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), non-enzymatic antioxidant (reduced glutathione) and total proteins levels in the liver and skin of mice when compared to carcinogen treated control (Group III).
