Pro-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of Corchorus olitorius and Amaranthus hybridus leaves in DMBA-induced breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the world's most prevalent cancer and accounts for the most lost disability-adjusted life years in women worldwide. Tumour-promoting inflammation and sustained proliferative signaling are some hallmarks of cancer which can be activated by environmental carcinogens that induce oxidative stress and inflammation via increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion. Increased binding of estrogen promotes the development and proliferation of breast cancer. Phytochemicals have been reported to promote health by combating oxidative stress. This study aims to assess the potential of crude hydroethanolic extract of C. olitorius (CO) and A. hybridus (AH) singly and in combination on IL-6 and estrogen in DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats. A 9 × 6 animal model made up of three groups each of control (normal, negative, positive), chemopreventive, and therapeutic (CO, AH, CO + AH mix). Phytochemical analyses were carried out on the plants, and breast cancer (BCa) was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by administering 80mg/Kg BW DMBA single dose orally. ELISA kits were used to determine the levels of IL-6 and estradiol in plasma. The group administered Tamoxifen and a combination of both plants recorded significantly higher plasma levels of estradiol (p=0.0005 and p=0.0242) respectively. Chemopreventive AH and CO + AH mix (39.46±3.167; 39.69±1.837) respectively had IL-6 levels similar to the normal control (38.03±2.334) and less than in the corresponding therapeutic groups (60.75±13.08;57.88±15.32) suggesting synergistic effect of both plants. A. hybridus can better prevent inflammation. We propose that the plants possess pro-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory potentials.