Protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of boerhaavia diffusa against dmba induced breast cancer in mice

Breast cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly or indirectly involves in multistage process of carcinogenesis. Anticancer activity of Hydroalcoholic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa on 7, 12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced breast cancer was investigated in female albino mice. Thirty mice were divided into five groups: Normal control, DMBA, DMBA+standard and DMBA with low & high dose of HAEBD. G2 served as the tumor control,was treated with a single dose of 7.5 mg of DMBA dissolved in sun flower oil (0.5 ml) given subcutaneously once a week for four consecutive weeks whereas G3 & G4 received 200mg/kg & 400mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa orally daily for a period of 45 days. Derived parameters such as Body weight, Tumour Volume, Percentage reduction of tumour volume were determined. Tumour volume was measured weekly. After the experimental period of 45 days, oxidative stress parameters were assessed in homogenates of breast of both control and experimental groups. Changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants system was evaluated in addition to tumour development. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels were observed in the tested samples of cancer induced rats while the activities of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were decreased in cancer-bearing animals when compared to control animals. Decrease in body weight & increase in tumour volume was observed in the DMBA group whereas body weight reduces & significant reduction in tumour volume were observed after treatment with HAEBD groups. Oral administration of HAEBD remarkably reduced the lipid peroxidation activity and increased the antioxidants level in drug treated animals and decreased the tumour volume significantly (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed the formation of tumor and angiogenesis in DMBA-induced rats and these abnormal changes were ameliorated by treatment with 400mg /kg of HAEBD. This result suggests that HAEBD shows anticancer activity and play a protective role against DMBA induced breast cancer.