Anti-proliferative Properties of Aqueous Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants on DMBA-induced Benign Breast Disease in Wistar Rats

Background and Objective: Benign breast diseases such as hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis, intraductal papillomas and radial scar are non-cancerous tumours on the breast. Although, benign diseases are not life-threatening, some are linked with a higher risk of developing mammary cancer. Hence, a plant-based approach is necessary since some of these herbal plants have been shown to have a positive effect in acting as antioxidants and might thus reduce the burden of mammary cancer to some extent. Biochemical effect of aqueous extract of selected medicinal plants on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced benign breast disease in Wistar-rats was investigated. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were used for this study, they were sixty-three in number, all females and weighted 120-250 g. They were assembled into nine different groups of seven animals each. Group I (control) was given normal feed. The other 8 groups were given 20 mg kg‾¹ DMBA orally to induce benign breast disease, group 2 (was not treated), group 3 (was given 6.6 mg kg‾¹ of tamoxifen) and groups 4-9 were given various concentrations of the three different plants at 500 and 1000 mg kg‾¹. Results: Treatment with the various concentrate revealed a significant reduction (p≤0.05) of cancer antigen 15-3, prolactin, estrogen and malondialdehyde, levels when compared to the DMBA group. The glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase, levels of the treated groups was significantly higher (p≤0.05) than the DMBA group. Histological changes on the breast tissue caused by DMBA-induced damage was decreased by the different plant’s. Conclusion: The present investigation reveals that the plants have properties that can lessen benign breast disease and conceivably breast cancer disease.