Therapeutic potential of Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f) Ettingsh on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumorigenesis in female rats: effect on antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation, and hepatic marker enzymes

Abstract

In this study, the therapeutic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f) Ettingsh (Loranthaceae; HEDF) on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma was investigated in Wistar female rats at 55 days of age. Thirty female rats were divided into five groups with six animals in each group: control, DMBA (25 mg in 0.5 ml olive oil by air pouch technique), and DMBA + HEDF (250, 475, and 950 mg/kg). After 90 days of induction, HEDF were administered for 28 days, by gastric intubations. The levels of lipid peroxides and activities of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants were measured in serum, liver, kidney, and breast of both control and experimental groups. In addition to this, liver marker enzymes were also assessed. Rats treated with DMBA showed an increase in lipid peroxidation accompanied by high malondialdehyde levels along with lowered activities of enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymic antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol). A significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase with a sharp increase in alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and 5′-nucleotidase was observed in the liver of mammary cancer-bearing animals. HEDF treatment caused the activity of these liver marker enzymes’ return to almost normal control levels. Furthermore, the breast tumor weight decreased significantly in the DMBA + HEDF-treated groups. This result suggests that HEDF shows antioxidant activity and play a protective role against DMBA-induced breast carcinogenesis.