The role of natural compounds in rat mammary cancer: the beneficial effects of Santolina chamaecyparissus L. aqueous extract

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed among women, and a leading cause of death worldwide. Santolina chamaecyparissus L. plant with multiple health benefits, including anticancer anti-diabetic properties. This study aimed to assess chemopreventive effects S. aqueous extract (SCE) in an animal model mammary cancer. A total 28 four-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, MNU-induced (IND), SCE-supplemented (SCE), SCE+IND. SCE was added drinking water (12.72 mg/kg body weight) ad libitum. MNU administered via intraperitoneal route at 50 days age. Weekly monitoring weight, food/drink intake, humane endpoints, number tumours recorded. Twenty weeks after administration, animals sacrificed by anaesthetic overdose necropsy performed. Blood samples used determine blood count serum biochemistry analysis, while kidney liver analysed for oxidative stress. Tumour collected gene expression histology studies. chemical composition LC-MS contained 19 phenolic compounds, abundant being myricetin-O-glucuronide 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Two IND group due exceeding endpoint limits. supplementation delayed tumour development, reducing its volume weight. had positive impact on haematological parameters, particularly neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.026). No significant differences observed biochemistry, except creatinine kinase MB, or stress markers. Gene analysis showed significantly reduced VEGF levels (P=0.0158) from These findings suggest that deserving further identify individual compounds understand influence models during development.