Introducing Cichorium Pumilum as a potential therapeutical agent against drug-induced benign breast tumor in rats

Electromagn Biol Med. 2012 Dec;31(4):299-309. doi: 10.3109/15368378.2012.662193. Epub 2012 Jul 19.

Abstract

Cichorium Pumilum (chicory) is could be a promising cancer treatment in which a photosensitizing drug concentrates in benign tumor cells and activated by quanta at certain wavelength. Such activated extracts could lead to cell death and tumor ablation. Previous studies have shown that Cichorium Pumilum (chicory) contains photosensitive compounds such as cichoriin, anthocyanins, lactucin, and Lactucopicrin. In the present study, the protective effect of sun light-activated Cichorium against the dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced benign breast tumors to female Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Chicory's extract has significantly increase P.carbonyl (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreases the hepatic levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in benign breast tumors-induced group compared to control. It also significantly decrease the number of estrogen receptors ER-positive cells in tumor masses. These results suggest that chicory extracts could be used as herbal photosensitizing agent in treating benign breast tumor in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Asteraceae / chemistry*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / radiation effects
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipid Peroxidation / radiation effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / radiation effects
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / chemically induced*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase