European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Globally, breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women and its incidence is amplifying alarmingly. Since genetic factors is believed to account for only 10% of the reported cases, remaining the environmental factors including diet are thought to play a significant role in predisposing breast cancer. Many bioactive compounds have been reported for their anticancer potential. One among the bioactive compound is 3,30 - diindolylmethane (DIM) is a phytochemical possess a wide array of pharmacological activities such as anti-proliferative and antioxidant properties. Its properties such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability have hampered its clinical development. Therefore, it is a great interest to study whether the nano formulation for DIM with chitosan for an enhanced their potential, the present study was aimed to evaluate the chemotherapeutic potential of 3,30 -diindolylmethane (DIM) encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles (DIM@CS-NP) on 7,12-dimetheyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinoma in female Sprague Dawley rats. Methods: DMBA was induced in a single subcutaneous injection of 25 mg/kg body weight to each rat. In the present study, we investigated altered the activities of lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx) and non- enzymatic antioxidant (GSH) in plasma, liver and mammary tissue, supported by histopathological study of mammary tissues. Results: We evaluated the changes in the body weight of control and experimental animals. There was an significant decreased in the final body weight of tumor bearing animals, when compared to control animals. However, administration of DIM@CS-NP significantly increased the mean final body weight when compared with DMBA induced animals. Further, there was an diminished cellular antioxidant status and the elevated oxidant levels in plasma, liver, mammary tissues of DMBA induced rats. Whereas, after oral supplementation with different dose of DIM@CS-NP, DIM@CS-NP 0.5 mg/kg BW significantly renovated the activities of cellular antioxidants and ultimately diminished the level of lipid peroxidation which point towards suppression of preneoplastic lesions thereby reduced the cancerous risk, and significant improvement in the levels of enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) and non- enzymatic antioxidant (GSH) in the plasma, liver and mammary tissue