The incidence of
breast cancer among women is high and increasing. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of an extract from bamboo Phyllostachys edulis on the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]
anthracene (DMBA)-induced
breast cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were fed with bamboo extract (BEX) supplemented diet or control diet, and treated with DMBA after 3 weeks of the dietary regime. The incidence of mammary
tumors was monitored by palpation for the next 11 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for total
antioxidant capacities (TAC) assay and liver samples for phase II
enzyme activity assays. The TAC values, total contents of phenolics and
flavonoids of BEX were also measured. The results showed that BEX delayed the onset of mammary
tumor by 1 week, decreased the
tumor incidence by 44% and
tumor multiplicity by 67%, and increased the total
sulfotransferases (SULT) activity by 63%. BEX showed high levels of TAC, total phenolic and total
flavonoids. However, the serum TAC values were not affected by BEX supplementation. In summary, the results indicate that BEX possesses a potent anti-
breast cancer effect, and the upregulation of SULT activity, therefore
estrogen metabolism may be the underlying mechanism.