Phytochemical analysis and anticancer capacity of Shemamruthaa, a herbal formulation against DMBA- induced mammary carcinoma in rats.

Objective: To investigate the bioactive constituents of Shemamruthaa (SM), a herbal combination and its therapeutic effects on the mitochondrial functions with reference to lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant status, citric acid cycle enzymes and electron transport chain enzymes in mammary tissues of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinoma in rat model.

Methods: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study and were divided into four groups. Group I served as control and Group II rats were induced mammary carcinoma by administration of DMBA (25 mg/kg b.w.) orally. The normal and cancer-induced rats (Group III) were treated with SM (400 mg/kg b.w./day) orally by gastric incubation for 14 days. Group IV rats served as SM-treated control animals.

Results: Cancer-induced rats showed a considerably increased level of LPO with concomitant decreased levels of antioxidants, citric acid cycle enzymes, electron transport chain enzymes and cytochrome contents in the mammary tissue. Treatment with SM brought back the aforementioned biochemical parameters to near normal.

Conclusions: From the results, it can be inferred that Shemamruthaa possesses significant anticancer effect through its role in attenuation of LPO, prevention of membrane damage and restoring membrane integrity.