BackgroundBreast cancer is the most common cancer and a major cause of death in women, makes up about one-tenth of all new cancer diagnoses worldwide. Breast cancer and other cancer forms are heterogeneous diseases with varied morphological appearances, molecular features, behavior, and response to therapies (using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy). Despite the achievement of objective responses, the available treatments are associated with significant limitations in safety and efficacy. Several plant products (barks, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds) have been characterized as effective in cancer chemoprevention with minimal or no side effects.AimsThis study is aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative potential of aqueous leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens on 7,12-dimethylbenzeneanthracene (DMBA)-induced-breast cancer in female albino rats.Materials and methodsM. pruriens, thirty (30) female albino rats and 7,12-dimethylbenzeneanthracene were used for this study. Hot extraction protocol was employed in the preparation of aqueous extract of M. pruriens leaves. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extract of M. pruriens and weight determination was employed using standard protocol. Comet assay protocol was employed to determine level of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation while hematoxylin and eosin were used for histological assay.ResultsPhytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugar, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols and steroids. Flavonoid was quantitatively determined to be present in the highest amount. Histological assay revealed the presence of atrophy of seromucous glands with surrounding stromal fibrosis and hyperplasia of serous and mucinous. There was a significant weight difference between the control and treatment groups. Determination of length and weight of isolated tumor from rat induced with DMBA only was 2.4cm and 2.8g respectively. DNA smears obtained from single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) suggested possible DMBA-induced damage which was significantly prevented owing to the effect of the leaf extract of M. pruriens.ConclusionThis study has shown that the leaf extract of M. pruriens could be used as a prophylactic measure against DMBA-induced cell proliferation in the breast tissues of female albino rats

Objective(s): Cancer is a group of genetic disorders in which the behavior of the cell is disturbed by mutation and other abnormalities thereby posing as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer, highly aggressive with high mortality and incidence rate; and has limited therapeutic options. Most of the conventional cancer chemotherapeutics are associated with undesirable side effects, toxicity, chemoresistance, and high treatment cost, driving the need for a safer and more effective treatment alternative. Medicinal plants and herbs have shown very promising anti-cancer properties which are important for cancer treatment due to their multiple chemical compounds. Materials and Methods: Qualitative screening of the ethanolic extractof Allium sativum was conducted showing the different phytochemicalspresent. The levels of liver function and hematological parameters wasdetermined via spectrophotometric analysis. Polymerase Chain Reaction techniquewas used to assess the gene patterns of Tumorsuppressor p53 (TP53). Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that Allium sativum has properties that antagonize the proliferating process of carcinogenesis in the liver. The NDEA-group showed significant distortion in the liver architecture characterized by vascular congestion of blood sinusoids, cirrhosis, and congestive hepatopathy while the treated groups showed a reduction in the abnormalities and malignant formation. The treated group showed a significant (P<0.05) increase and restored activities of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Bilirubin and hematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs, and Platelets). TP53 gene amplification was significantly (P<0.05) visible after treatment. Conclusion: Ethanolic plant extract of A. sativum demonstrates its anticancer properties by improving the liver architecture, increasing the antioxidant defense systems, and activation of the tumor suppressor (TP53) gene. Garlic extract has anti-proliferating properties and can be used as an alternative mode of treatment and prevention for hepatocellular carcinoma.