The objective of this study was to observe the effect of α-linolenic acid rich in perilla
oil on colonic mucosal cell proliferation and fatty acid compositon of phosphatidyl
inositol (PI) and the levels of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), TXB2 and PGE2 which were
known as biomarkers for colon cancer. Eighty male Sprague Dawley rats, at 7 weeks
old, were divided into two groups (saline for control and DMH treatment) and each group
was again subdivided into two groups of fat (corn oil or perilla oil). Each rat was
intramusculary injected with saline or 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) for 6 weeks(total
dose of 180 mg/kg body weight) and simultaneously fed the experimental diet for 20
weeks containing dietary fat (corn oil or perilla oil) at 15% by weight.
DMH treatment, regardless of the type of dietary fat, significantly increased cell
proliferation by enlarging proliferative zone, labeling index and crypt length and
increased colonic mucosal levels of DAG and PI arachidonic acid distribution. Compared
to corn oil, perilla oil significantly reduced cell proliferation by decreasing labeling index,
proliferative zone and crypt length in colonic mucosa and also reduced colonic mucosal
levels of DAG, TXB2, PGE2 and PI arachidonic acid distribution. Therefore, n-3 α
-linolenic acid rich in perilla oil could be very important source in reducing the risk factor
for colon cancer and it is suggested to use more perilla oil for meal preparation.

Keywords: Colon cancer biomarker, Cell proliferation, Diacylglycerol, Phosphatidyl
inositol, TXB2, PGE2, Corn oil, Perilla oil