Modifying role of apigenin in angiogenesis and anti-oxidant status in experimentally induced breast cancer in rats

Background: Angiogenesis and agents which inhibit it are currently an alternative approach to anti-cancer therapy. Tumor metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy are factors to be considered in the management of breast cancer. Apigenin, a flavone is documented to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-proliferative effects in vitro studies, but activity in vivo is still hypothetical.Methods: Apigenin at doses of 50,100, 200 mg/kg body weight and tamoxifen at 50 mg/kg was administered to female albino Wistar rats and 7,12, dimethylbenzanthracene was used to induce mammary carcinogenesis. The anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were estimated in breast tissue and erythrocyte lysate with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Immunohistochemical staining for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression was done to study its role in angiogenesis. The statistical significance of the data was determined using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett’s multiple range test.Results: Apigenin at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg (<0.05) was most effective in modifying the anti-oxidant status in breast tissue and in inhibiting VEGF expression in the immunohistochemical analysis in comparison with tamoxifen.Conclusion: The results of our study implicate that apigenin, an innocuous agent could help alleviate the oxidative stress in breast cancer tissues, minimize toxicity of anti-cancer drugs and also slow down the process of angiogenesis in breast cancer