Anti-tumour Effect of Mangifera indica Against DMBA Induced Breast Cancer in Rats

Author(s): Jyoti Prakash, Chandrajeet Kumar, Aparna Jyoti Kujur, Sanjiv Kumar and Arun Kumar

In recent times breast cancer incidences have increased manifold globally. It is the most common form of cancer worldwide. It is also the major cause of death in female cancer patients around the world. Despite various drug discoveries and advancements in medical treatment, it remains associated with a high mortality rate. Mangifera indica (L.) has been extensively used in the Indian medicine system Ayurveda, due to its various medicinal properties. It is the most common tree found in the Indian subcontinent and has had religious as well as social connections in life for centuries of years. However, there are very limited reports regarding its anticancer activity. Thus, the present study has been aimed to study the anticancer activity of Mangifera indica leaf extract on 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced breast cancer in rats. Female Charles Foster rats, 55 – 60 days old weighing around (150±10 g) were used for the study and were induced DMBA (20 mg/mL dissolved in Olive oil) orally. After the development of breast tumors (about 0.8 cm), the rats were treated with Mangifera indica hydroxy-ethanolic leaf extract (200 mg/kg b.w./day) orally for 5 weeks and then the volume of the tumor was measured. Mangifera indica treatment showed significantly reduced mammary tumor volume (p< 0.05), along with significant reduction (p< 0.0001) in the different serum biomarkers such as TNF- α level and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Significant (p< 0.0001) improvement in both, the kidney and liver serum biomarker parameters were observed after the treatment with Mangifera indica hydroxy-ethanolic leaf extract. From the entire study, taking everything into account it can be interpreted that Mangifera indica hydroxy-ethanolic leaf extract possesses anti-proliferative activity by suppressing the progression of breast tumors in the rat model. The plant extract also possesses a hepato-renal protective effect. Hence, it can be targeted as a novel and safe anti-cancer drug against breast cancer.