Effect of Vitex agnus Extract on MNU Induced Mammary Tumor of Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most serious and life taking etiologies of the present time. The cause and treatment of breast cancer still remains the major concern of medical and health sciences. The Vitex agnus also known as Vitex agnus castus(VAC) or Vitex nirgundi is used for many reproductive problems of females and widely used for the treatment of pre-menstrual stress syndrome and cyclical breast pain. The Vitex agnus extract is used in the present study to see its anticancer effect in mammary tumors. The objective of the study was to investigate the in-vivo anticancer effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex agnus in ameliorating the mammary tumor of the SD rats. Methodology: A 30 day old inbred Sprague dawley (SD) female rats of body weight 70-80 grams were taken for this study. The rats were induced with MNU for mammary tumor development. After the development of palpable and visible tumor the rats were given a hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex agnus. Serum MDA and GSH were measured to check the pro and antioxidant potential of Vitex agnus . Results: Histopathological findings showed the regression features in the tumor of the rats treated with Vitex agnus extract indicating the positive treatment of mammary tumor and improved oxidative status of the tissue was evident by increase in the levels of GSH and decreased levels of serum MDA levels which in turn is an indicator of reduced oxidative stress of the tissue. Conclusion: Therefore, this study suggests that Vitex agnus extract can be useful for the treatment as well as improvement of oxidative status of the mammary tumor tissue. Key words: Breast Cancer, Vitex agnus Castus, Histopathology, GSH, MDA, Sprague Dawley.