Anticancer Activity of Ethyl Acetate Fraction and Ethanol Leaf Extract of Olax subscorpioidea against DMBA-Induced Female Rats

Abstract

Breast cancer continues to be a major contributor to cancer-related deaths in developing nations. Olax subscorpioidea is used in Nigerian traditional medicine as a treatment for cancer. The study examined the effects of Olax subscorpioidea's ethyl acetate fraction (OSEA) and ethanol leaf extract (OSE) on 7,12-Dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats. The anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were evaluated using established procedures. The study involved 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats with an average weight of 110 ± 20 g. The rats were given a dose of 80 mg/kg of DMBA to stimulate proliferation. Subsequently, OSEA, OSE (250 mg/kg BW), and tamoxifen (6.6 mg/kg BW) were administered. The trial spanned a duration of 22 weeks. The study evaluated the impact of the treatment on various aspects such as body weight, organ weight, liver and kidney function, oxidative stress indicators, oestrogen levels, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Cancer antigen 153 (CA-153), and mammary tissue histology. It was found that body weight, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Reduced glutathione (GSH), liver enzymes, and renal function increased significantly with OSEA and OSE therapy. The levels of oestrogen, IL-6, CA-153, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly. The histological study revealed that OSEA and OSE had a positive impact on acini normalisation and the inhibition of breast ductal cell growth. The study found that OSEA and OSE demonstrated promising effects against cancer, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer. The results offer scientific support for the traditional use of Olax subscorpioidea as a potential natural remedy for breast cancer.