Potential of Regular Consumption of Cameroonian Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) Oil for Prevention of the 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-Induced Breast Cancer in High-Fat/Sucrose-Fed Wistar Rats

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree from the Meliaceae family native to India, where it is considered as one of the most important plants worldwide. The anticancer effects of neem oil on breast cancer cells have been recently reported; however, its in vivo effects have not been studied. This prompted us to investigate the protective effects of neem oil on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in high-fat/sucrose-fed Wistar rats. Juvenile female Wistar rats were treated either with neem oil at a dose of 3 mL/kg body weight at 3 different frequencies, 2 times/week (Neem 1), 4 times/week (Neem 2), and every day (Neem 3), or with tamoxifen (3.3 mg/kg body weight), starting 1 week prior to DMBA treatment and lasting 12 weeks. Incidence, burden, volume, and histological analysis of mammary tumors were measured. Further toxicological parameters have been assessed. No tumors were detected in rats from the normal group, while all the rats from the negative control group (100%) developed mammary tumors. The regular consumption of neem oil at a dose of 3 mL/kg (2 or 4 times/week) significantly (p < 0.01) and in a dose-dependent manner reduced tumor incidence (80%), burden [35.78% (2 times/week) and 36.09% (4 times/week)], and weight. Neem consumption protected rats against DMBA-induced breast hyperplasia, with an optimal effect when taken 4 times weekly. Interestingly, all the animals that received a daily dose of 3 mL/kg died at the third week of the experiment. Further, animals that took the neem oil 4 times per week developed hepatotoxicity, evidenced by an increase of liver wet weight, transaminase (ALT and AST) activity, and histological abnormalities in liver. This study brings insight into the use of neem oil, which is greatly appreciated in traditional medicine. In summary, we demonstrated for the first time that the regular consumption of neem oil prevents breast cancer, but its excessive consumption is toxic

Excelsanone, a new isoflavonoid from Erythrina excelsa (Fabaceae), with in vitro antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic effects on prostate cancer cells lines.

A new isoflavonoid, excelsanone (2), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Erythrina excelsa stem bark, together with three known compounds namely 6,8-diprenylgenistein (3), beta-sitosterol (1) and sitosteryl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4). Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods (HR-ESI-MS, NMR and IR) and by comparison with some literature data. The antioxidant activity of crude extracts and two isolated compounds was evaluated using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Ability Power (FRAP) methods with catechin as standard. The results of the radical scavenging activity showed that excelsanone (2) has a moderate potential with an IC50 of 1.31 mg/ml. The cytotoxicity of compounds 2 and 3 as well as the ethyl acetate extract was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in two prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3). Excelsanone (2) induced a greater cytotoxicity in all tested cell lines, with a significant inhibition of DU145 cells growth in a concentration-dependent manner

The Antioxidant Potential of Ficus Umbellata Vahl (Moraceae) That Accelerates In Vitro and the In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Protective Effects

Ficus umbellata Vahl (Moraceae), is a plant with health benefits involved in the management of menopause physiological disorders and cancers. This study aimed at investigating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous (FUAq) and methanolic (FUMeOH) extracts of Ficus umbellata. Their antioxidant activities were assayed by free radical scavenging using DPPH and ABTS assays, total antioxidant capacity, and ferrous reducing power (FRAP). Further, the effects of FUAq and FUMeOH on murine erythrocyte membrane hemolysis and protein denaturation were investigated. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined in Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced paw oedema. At tested concentrations, FUAq and FUMeOH demonstrated strong radical scavenging that was dose- and time-dependent, as well as total antioxidant capacity and ferrous ions reducing power. Moreover, they were able to stabilize murine red blood cell membranes against heat induced hemolysis and inhibit the denaturation of egg albumin at concentrations ranging from 0.125&ndash;2 mg/mL. Ficus umbellata methanolic extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg endow antiedematous properties with edema inhibition percentages of 71.16 &plusmn; 1.72% and 72.98 &plusmn; 7.51%, respectively. Our findings shed light on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus umbellata that could be used in novel and safe strategies to overwhelm oxidative and inflammatory related diseases

The Antioxidant Potential of Ficus Umbellata Vahl (Moraceae) That Accelerates In Vitro and the In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Protective Effects

Ficus umbellata Vahl (Moraceae), is a plant with health benefits involved in the management of menopause physiological disorders and cancers. This study aimed at investigating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous (FUAq) and methanolic (FUMeOH) extracts of Ficus umbellata. Their antioxidant activities were assayed by free radical scavenging using DPPH and ABTS assays, total antioxidant capacity, and ferrous reducing power (FRAP). Further, the effects of FUAq and FUMeOH on murine erythrocyte membrane hemolysis and protein denaturation were investigated. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined in Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced paw oedema. At tested concentrations, FUAq and FUMeOH demonstrated strong radical scavenging that was dose- and time-dependent, as well as total antioxidant capacity and ferrous ions reducing power. Moreover, they were able to stabilize murine red blood cell membranes against heat induced hemolysis and inhibit the denaturation of egg albumin at concentrations ranging from 0.125–2 mg/mL. Ficus umbellata methanolic extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg endow antiedematous properties with edema inhibition percentages of 71.16 ± 1.72% and 72.98 ± 7.51%, respectively. Our findings shed light on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus umbellata that could be used in novel and safe strategies to overwhelm oxidative and inflammatory related diseases

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and In Vivo Antimammary Tumor Effects of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Acacia seyal (Mimosaceae) Stem Bark

The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of A. seyal hydroethanolic extract on breast cancer. The cytotoxicity of A. seyal extract was evaluated using resazurin reduction assay in 9 cell lines. Further, the protective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of A. seyal stem barks was evaluated on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene- (DMBA-) induced breast cancer rat model. Incidence, burden, volume, and histological analysis of mammary tumors were measured. The Acacia seyal extract exhibited CC50 of 100 in MCF-7 cells after 24 h. In vivo, no tumors were detected in rats from the control group, while 11 rats out of 12 (91.66%) developed mammary tumors in the DMBA-exposed group receiving only the vehicle. Acacia seyal extract significantly (p<0.01) and in the dose-dependent manner reduced tumor incidence (3 rats out of 12 at the dose of 300 mg/kg), burden [62.1% (150 mg/kg) and 65.8% (300 mg/kg)], and mass. It protected rats against DMBA-induced breast hyperplasia, with an optimal effect at the dose of 300 mg/kg. Taken altogether, these results suggest that the hydroethanolic extract of Acacia seyal might contain phytoconstituents endowed with antitumoral properties, which could protect against the breast cancer induced in rats

Phytochemical characterization and assessment of antitumor activity of the aqueous extract of Acmella caulirhiza in female Wistar rats induced by 7,12 dimethylbenz (a) anthracene

Background: Recent studies increasingly show the implication of medicinal plants in cancer management. Acmella caulirhiza, a plant belonging to the Asteraceae is traditionally used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent to fight against diseases like cancer. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumoral properties of the aqueous extract of leaves and flowers of A. caulirhiza (AE-Ac). Methods: After phytochemical characterization, the cytotoxic activity of AE-Ac on MCF-7 breast cancer lines was carried out using the MTT method. For in vivo study, 36 female Wistar rats (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6 each) as follows: normal control receiving distilled water (NC), positive control receiving distilled water (DMBA), 3 test groups (receiving either 75, 150 or 300 mg/kg.Bw of AE-Ac (AE-Ac 75, AE-Ac 150 and AE-Ac 300 respectively)) and a reference group (Tam) receiving Tamoxifen at 3.3 mg/kg.Bw. They were fed with a high-fat diet daily. After 2 weeks all groups except the NC group were treated with a single dose of DMBA (7,12-Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene) (50 mg/kg. Bw) by intraperitoneal injection. Daily treatments were administered by intragastric intubation for 12 weeks. At the end, animals were sacrificed after 12 h of fasting and blood was collected for biochemical analysis. The mammary glands were isolated for histological analysis. Results: AE-Ac contains bioactive compounds amongst which stigmasterol, phytol, ellagic acid, phenol, sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids. AE-Ac was more active at 72 h (IC50 = 114.86 µg/mL) on MCF-7 cells. The cancer-treated groups exhibited the lowest percentage of weight gain variation, particularly the group receiving the reference molecule (Tamoxifen) (68.12 %) followed by the AE-Ac 150 group (92.45 %). AE-Ac at 150 and 300 mg/kg-Bw significantly reduced tumor volume and CA 15-3 levels (p = 0.004). Histological analysis of the mammary gland revealed more extensive ascini destruction in the AE-Ac 75 group followed by the DMBA group. Treatment with the 150 mg/kg.Bw ameliorated antioxidant enzyme (SOD and Catalase (p < 0.001)) activities, pro-oxidant levels (NO● and HO●), as well as inflammatory parameters (TNF-α and EGF; RBC, Hb, PLT) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that AE-Ac can be a good candidate as a complementary agent in breast cancer management