Effect of an extract of Withania somnifera root on estrogen receptor-positive mammary carcinomas

• Published in: Anticancer research 2013-04, Vol.33 (4), p.1519-1523
• Main Authors: Khazal, Kamel F, Samuel, Temesgen, Hill, Donald L, Grubbs, Clinton J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkylating Agents - toxicity; Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - metabolism; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - pathology; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - prevention & control; Methylnitrosourea - toxicity; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Roots - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Withania - chemistry
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

The chemopreventive activity of an extract of Withania somnifera (WS) roots was examined in female Sprague-Dawley rats that received the mammary carcinogen methylnitrosourea (MNU). The dose of the extract, administered by gavage, was 150 mg/kg body weight daily for 155 days, after injection of MNU. Rats in the treated group (N=15) had an average of 3.47 tumors, and rats in the control group (N=15) had 4.53, a reduction of 23%. The average weights of tumors were 4.98 g for rats in the treated group and 6.30 g for the controls, a difference of 21%. Labeling indices for Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) markers in cancers of the treated group were 42% and 38% lower, respectively, than those of the corresponding indices for the control group. These results indicate that the root extract significantly reduced the rate of cell division in the mammary tumors.