The present study investigated the protective efficacy of the novel preparation named as
Kalpaamruthaa (KA, includes Semecarpus anacardium Linn nut milk extract (SA), dried
powder of Phyllanthus emblica fruit and honey) on the peroxidative damage and abnormal
antioxidant levels in the hepatic mitochondrial fraction of
7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary
carcinoma rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats of weight 180+/-10 g were categorized into six groups. Three groups were administered DMBA (25 mg/rat dissolved in
olive oil, orally) to induce mammary
carcinoma. One of these groups received KA treatment (300 mg/kg b.wt., orally) and other group received SA (200 mg/kg b.wt., orally) for 14 days after 90 days of DMBA induction. Vehicle-treated control and drug control groups were also included. The hepatic mitochondrial fraction of untreated DMBA rats showed 2.96-fold increase in MDA content when compared to control rats and abnormal changes in the activities/levels of mitochondrial enzymic (
superoxide dismutase,
glutathione peroxidase and
glutathione reductase) and non-enzymic (
glutathione,
vitamin C and
vitamin E)
antioxidants were observed. DMBA-treated rats also showed decline in the activities of mitochondrial
enzymes such as
succinate dehydrogenase,
alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase,
malate dehydrogenase and
isocitrate dehydrogenase. In contrast, rats treated with SA and KA showed normal lipid peroxidation
antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial
enzymes, thereby showing the protection rendered by SA and KA. Although, KA treatment exhibited more profound effect in inhibiting DMBA-induced oxidative stress than sole SA treatment. Results of the study indicate that the anticarcinogenic activity of KA during DMBA-initiated mammary
carcinogenesis is mediated through alteration of hepatic
antioxidant status as well as modulation of TCA cycle
enzymes. On the basis of the observed results, KA can be considered as a readily accessible, promising and novel
cancer chemopreventive agent.