Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.55.1.3

The role of natural compounds in rat mammary cancer: the beneficial effects of Santolina chamaecyparissus L. aqueous extract

Tiago Azevedo ; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Associate Laboratory Institute for innovation, capacity building and sustainability of agri-food production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
Jessica Silva ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Ana I. Faustino-Rocha ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Évora, Portugal
Abigaël Valada ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Lara Anjos ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Tânia Moura ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Rafaela Ferreira ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Marlene Santos ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Maria J. Pires ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Maria J. Neuparth ; Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports - University of Porto (FADEUP); Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal; Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
Francisco Peixoto ; Chemistry Center-Vila Real (CQ-VR), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Ana C. Silvestre-Ferreira ; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science-AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Adelina Gama ; CECAV, AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Fernanda Seixas ; CECAV, AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Tiane C. Finimundy ; Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
Lilian Barros ; CIMO, SusTEC, IPB, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
Manuela Matos ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Paula A. Oliveira orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-4044 ; CITAB, Inov4Agro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women, and a leading cause of death worldwide. Santolina chamaecyparissus L. is a plant with multiple health benefits, including anticancer and anti-diabetic properties. This study aimed to assess the chemopreventive effects of S. chamaecyparissus aqueous extract (SCE) in an animal model of mammary cancer. A total of 28 four-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, MNU-induced (IND), SCE-supplemented (SCE), and SCE+IND. SCE was added to drinking water (12.72 mg/kg body weight) ad libitum. MNU was administered via the intraperitoneal route at 50 days of age. Weekly monitoring of body weight, food/drink intake, humane endpoints, and number of mammary tumours were recorded. Twenty weeks after MNU administration, animals were sacrificed by anaesthetic overdose and a necropsy was performed. Blood samples were used to determine blood count and serum biochemistry analysis, while kidney and liver samples were analysed for oxidative stress. Tumour samples were collected for gene expression and histology studies. SCE chemical composition was analysed by LC-MS and contained 19 phenolic compounds, with the most abundant being myricetin-O-glucuronide and 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Two animals in the IND group were sacrificed due to exceeding the humane endpoint limits. SCE supplementation delayed mammary tumour development, reducing its volume and weight. SCE had a positive impact on haematological parameters, particularly the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.026). No significant differences were observed in serum biochemistry, except for creatinine kinase MB, or in oxidative stress markers. Gene expression analysis showed significantly reduced VEGF expression levels (P=0.0158) in tumours from SCE+IND. These findings suggest that SCE is deserving of further study to identify the individual compounds and to understand its influence on animal models during cancer development.

Keywords

Breast cancer; Wistar rats; Santolina chamaecyparissus; Chemoprevention; Animal model

Hrčak ID:

301448

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/301448

Publication date:

2.7.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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