Antimutagenic, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Evaluation of Selected Seed Oils: Potential Application for Skin Cancer Chemoprevention

Background: Skin cancer is a major global health concern driven by ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced DNA damage, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Targeting these interconnected processes is critical for effective chemoprevention. This study aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential of selected seed oils (Citrullus lanatus, Cocos nucifera, and Vitellaria paradoxa) and to explore their relevance in mitigating key pathways involved in skin carcinogenesis.
Methods: Seed oils were extracted using Soxhlet extraction and assessed using established in vitro assays. Antimutagenic activity was determined using the Ames test with -Ve-His-Salmonella typhimurium. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by protein denaturation and proteinase inhibition assays. All experiments were conducted in triplicate, and statistical significance was determined using one-way ANOVA at P < 0.05.
Results: The results demonstrated significant, concentration-dependent biological activities across all oils. Citrullus lanatus seed oil exhibited the strongest antimutagenic effect, reducing revertant colonies to 32.0 ± 1.41(75.18% inhibition) at 2.5% compared to 130 ± 19.79 in the positive control. In antioxidant assays, Cocos nucifera seed oil showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (73.03% at 125 µml/ml; IC₅₀ = 144.1 µml/ml), while Citrullus lanatus oil demonstrated superior hydroxyl radical scavenging (45.65% at 125 µml/ml) and lipid peroxidation inhibition (55.58%). Anti-inflammatory assays revealed strong inhibition of protein denaturation, with Citrullus lanatus oil reaching 91.78% at 125 µml/ml, alongside notable proteinase inhibition (56.19%). Vitellaria paradoxa showed moderate but consistent activity across all assays.
Conclusion: The studied seed oils exhibit multi-targeted chemopreventive properties, acting through suppression of mutagenesis, attenuation of oxidative stress, and modulation of inflammatory responses. Citrullus lanatus seed oil demonstrated the most consistent and potent activity, highlighting its potential as a promising natural agent for skin cancer prevention.

Skin carcinogenesis; Chemoprevention; Vitellaria paradoxa; Cocos nucifera; His-Salmonella typhimurium; Citrullus lanatus.

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