Abstract

Puerariae Radix (PR) is the root of Pueraria lobata, an herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a food seasoning. Owing to its potential anti-oxidative ability, the effects of PR on the inhibition of breast tumors were investigated in this study using the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-treated rat model. Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four different treatment groups, with or without PR and/or DMBA administration. At the age of 177 days, all rats were sacrificed, the number and size of tumors were recorded, and blood and tissue samples were collected for assessment of hematological parameters, redox status, and tumorigenesis-related factors. We found that PR supplementation decreased tumor incidence and WBC count but increased the IgM levels, and significantly altered the redox status, elevated serum TGF-Beta levels, and reduced serum VEGF-C and ICAM-1 levels. The mechanism by which PR decreased the incidence of DMBA-induced rat breast tumors might include ameliorating immunity, enhancing the antioxidant status, increasing the hepatic excretion of carcinogenic metabolites of DMBA, and influencing the expression of tumorigenesis-related factors.

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