ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic efficacy of tangeretin on DMBA-induced oxidative stress in breast cancer-bearing Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: In this study, the experimental animals were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I was control, Group II was DMBA-induced breast cancer-bearing rats, Group III was tangeretin pre-treated (50 mg/kg body weight for 30 days orally) breast cancer-bearing animals, Group IV was tangeretin post-treated (50 mg/kg body weight for 30 days orally) and Group V was tangeretin (50 mg/kg body weight) alone treated animals. RESULTS: We have observed the general characteristics of cancer, oxidative stress markers, breast cancer marker, antioxidants and histopathological changes in the experimental animals. We have recorded the body weight, tumor weights, tumor volume and antitumor activity of tangeretin in the experimental animals. Oxidative stress markers, like NO and LPO, and breast cancer marker CEA levels were significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.05) increased as well as the antioxidants like SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in cancer-bearing Group II animals. Whereas, the enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidant levels were found to be significantly decreased in cancer-bearing animals. However, in tangeretin pre-treated and post- treated animals, the levels of antioxidants and breast cancer marker were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with a concomitant increase in the activities of the antioxidants (p < 0.05). In tangeretin alone treated Group V animals, no significant changes were observed in the levels of antioxidants and breast cancer marker. These results were adequately supported by the histopathological studies in the mammary tissues of the experimental animals. CONCLUSION: From this study, we conclude that the administration of tangeretin was found to be beneficial against DMBA-induced oxidative stress in breast cancer-bearing animals. Hence, we strongly suggest that tangeretin is effective and efficient candidate for the treatment of experimental breast cancer.
