Modulating Effect of Hypnea musciformis (Red Seaweed) on Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidants and Biotransforming Enzymes in 7,12-Dimethylbenz (a) Anthracene Induced Mammary Carcinogenesis in Experimental Animals

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the second most widespread diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Objective: The present work was carried out to evaluate the chemo preventive potential of Hypnea musciformis (ethanol extract) seaweed on oxidative stress markers, bio transforming enzymes, incidence of tumors, and pathological observation in 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) exposed experimental mammary carcinogenesis.

Materials and methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Rats in the group 1 served as control. Rats in the group 2 and 3 received a single subcutaneous injection of DMBA (25 mg/kg body weight (b.w)) in the mammary gland to develop mammary carcinoma. In addition, group 3 rats were orally administrated with 200 mg/kg between of H. musciformis along with DMBA injection and group 4 rats received ethanolic extract of H. musciformis every day orally (200 mg/kg b.w) throughout the experimental period of 16 weeks.

Results: Our results revealed that treatment with H. musciformis ethanolic extract to DMBA treated rats significantly reduced the incidence of tumor and tumor volume as compared to DMBA alone treated rats. Moreover, our results showed imbalance in the activities/levels of lipid peroxidation by products, antioxidant enzymes, and bio transforming phase I and II enzymes in the circulation, liver and mammary tissues of DMBA treated rats which were significantly modulated to near normal on treatment with ethanolic extract of H. musciformis. All these alterations were supported by histochemical findings.

Conclusion: The results obtained from this study suggest that chemo preventive potential of H. musciformis ethanol extract is probably due to their free radicals quenching effect and modulating potential of bio transforming enzymes during DMBA exposed experimental mammary carcinogenesis.

Summary: DMBA is a source of well-established site specific carcinogenHypnea musciformis act as a free radical quencherHypnea musciformis has a definite chemo preventive efficacy in experimental ratsH. musciformis is a resource of prooxidant/antioxidant balance and also its anti-proliferative effectsH. musciformis has a detoxificant in the mammary carcinoma. Abbreviations Used: BRCA1: Breast Cancer Gene 1; BRCA2: Breast Cancer Gene 1; CYP: Cytochrome P450; DMBA: 7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; H2O2: Hydrogen peroxides; LPO: Lipid peroxidation; PAH: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; GSSG: Oxidized glutathione.

Keywords: mammary carcinogenesis; Chemo prevention; Hypnea musciformis; oxidative stress; seaweeds.

Figure 1

Photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin stained liver. Liver of control and Hypnea musciformis alone administered rats showed normal liver architecture. (a and d) 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene alone treated rats showed micro and macro vesicular type of fatty changes, sinusoidal dilation, nuclear pleomorphism, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal triad. (b) The liver of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene induced rats administrated with Hypnea musciformis ethanolic extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg between showed very occasionally lymphoid aggregates and fever neoplastic cells (c)

Figure 2

Photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin stained mammary tissue. Mammary tissue of control and Hypnea musciformis alone administered rats showed normal architecture. (a and d) 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene alone treated rat mammary tissue showed sequence of adenocarcinoma and predominate ductal hyperplasia. (b) The mammary tissue of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene induced rats administrated with Hypnea musciformis ethanolic extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg between showed ductal hyperplasia occasionally (c)