Abstract

Breast cancer continues to be a significant health problem for women worldwide and remains one of the most common causes of cancer death in developed countries. In developing countries, the incidence of breast cancer has been trending upward and is becoming a major health burden also. This study aimed at investigating the effect of Cucumis callosus fruit extract on the liver function of 7, 12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary cancer in female rats. Thirty-six (36) healthy adult female wistar albino rats weighing about 150 to 200g were purchased. They were housed in polypropylene cages under the standard laboratory condition (25 ± 2°C, humidity 60-70 %, 12 hours light / dark cycles). The animals were fed with commercial rat pellet diet and water was provided ad libitum. The rats were acclimatized to laboratory conditions for one week prior to the commencement of the experiment. Cucumis callosus fruit was bought from Jimeta market in Yola, Adamawa state, Nigeria in November 2023. The pulp of fresh Cucumis Callosus fruits were chopped into pieces and dried at room temperature for 3 weeks. The completely dried fruit pulps were ground into powder by using a mortar and pestle then stored. 10 g of the dried fruit powder was successively extracted with 100 ml of methanol for 48hrs. Afterwards it was filtered with white mesh and then with Whatmann No 1 filter paper. The filtrate was concentrated using a rotatory evaporator. The concentrated extracts was stored in small vials and used for further analysis. The rats were organized into 5 groups: Rats in the control group (group 1) were fed with standard diet and water ad libitum. Rats in group 2 were induced with breast cancer by introducing into them 0.01% DMBA intravenously. Rats in group 3 were treated with standard drug and DMBA. Rats in group 4 were treated with DMBA and 100mg/b.wt, while rats in group 5 were treated with DMBA and 200mg/b.wt as treatment. After treatment for 3 weeks, the liver function marker enzymes levels of the rats such as Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase, among others were analyzed. The extract group showed similar levels of liver damage markers (AST and ALT) to the healthy control group, suggesting it might help maintain normal liver function despite the cancer. Total protein levels were not significantly affected by DMBA-induced breast cancer or the treatment plans. However, globulin levels showed significant differences, with higher levels in groups with Cucumis callosus extract. The study also found that a 100 mg/b.wt. dose of Cucumis callosus fruit extract may help maintain normal globulin levels in rats with DMBA-induced mammary cancer, but greater doses and conventional treatment regimens did not. The study suggests that Cucumis callosus extract, at a dose of 100 mg/b.wt, may offer protective effects on liver function in female rats with DMBA-induced mammary cancer.

Keywords

Breast cancer, 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), enzymes, cucumis callosus liver