Fagonia Arabica Extract Exerts Antitumor Effect on Mice Bearing Ehrlich Carcinoma

Background: To date, no studies have investigated the anticancer potential of Fagonia arabica. we aimed to investigate the antitumor potentiality and radiosensitizing effect of Fagonia arabica ethanolic extract (FAEE) on mice bearing solid ehrlich carcinoma (EC).Method: This experimental animal study included ۸۰ Balb-c mice and divided them into four groups: Group I: ۱۰ EC-bearing mice as untreated controls; Group II: ۱۰ EC-bearing mice exposed to a single dose of ionizing radiation (IR) at tumor localization (۶Gy); Group III: ۳۰ EC-bearing mice, each ۱۰ mice received different dose of FAEE (۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/day); Group IV: ۳۰ EC-bearing mice, each ۱۰ mice received different dose of FAEE (۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/day) plus a single dose of IR (۶Gy). P-FOXO۳a and p-AKT levels were measured in tumor tissue homogenate via ELISA technique. BCL-۲ gene expression was assessed with realtime polymerase chain reaction. Tumor tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain and examined.Results: FAEE has antiproliferative effect on EC-bearing mice reflected by the decrease in tumor volume and tumor growth rate in a dose-dependent manner. Combination of FAEE with IR significantly increased radiation-induced tumor damage in comparison with IR alone. We observed a significant decrease in the concentration of p-AKT and p-FOXO۳a and down-regulation of BCL-۲ gene in the EC-bearing mice treated with FAEE only or in combination with IR.Conclusion: FAEE may be an effective antitumor agent against breast cancer. FAEE exerts radio-sensitizing effect, especially at a dose of ۵۰۰ mg/kg. FAEE interferes with the apoptosis process via decreasing p-AKT and p-FOXO۳a and down-regulation of BCL-۲ gene.

Keywords:

Fagonia arabica , Ionizing , Radiation , Ehrlich tumor , p-FOXO۳a , p-AKT