Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the pretreatment with Madhuca longifolia leaves on 7, 12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma in Sprague Dawley rat. Materials and Methods: Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups, and each group is having six rats. Group I rats received vehicle (1 mL of emulsion of sunflower oil and physiological saline) subcutaneously and 1 mL of 2% dimethyl sulfoxide per orally. Groups II, III, IV, and V were induced mammary carcinogenesis by giving single dose of subcutaneous injection of 25 mg of DMBA. Group III, IV, and V rats were administered with MEML 100, 200 mg/kg and Vincristine 0.5 mg/kg dissolved in 1 ml of 2% dimethylsulfoxide given 1 week before the administration of the carcinogen, respectively, and continued for 16 weeks. At the end of experiment, the animals were sacrificed and biochemical estimations were done in all groups. Mammary tissues in all groups were dissected out and used for histopathological studies. Results: Oral administration of 200 mg/kg of MEML to DMBA-treated rats effectively prevented the tumor incidence, total number of tumors, and tumor volume and brought back the biochemical markers to normal, which was comparable with standard group. In lower dose 100 mg/kg, the effect was very less compared to normal and standard groups. Our data showed that MEML 200 mg/kg significantly restored the breast tissue biochemically and histologically which was comparable with standard. Conclusion: Our results concluded that the leaves of Madhuca longifolia may be used in the treatment of mammary carcinoma.