Flavokawain A is a
chalcone that can be found in the kava-kava plant (Piper methsyticum) extract. The kava-kava plant has been reported to possess anti-
cancer, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The state of the immune system, and the inflammatory process play vital roles in the progression of
cancer. The immunomodulatary effects and the anti-inflammatory effects of
flavokawain A in a
breast cancer murine model have not been studied yet. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the basic mechanism as to how
flavokawain A regulates and enhance the immune system as well as impeding the inflammatory process in
breast cancer-challenged mice. Based on our study, it is interesting to note that
flavokawain A increased the T cell population; both Th1 cells and CTLs, aside from the natural killer cells. The levels of IFN-γ and
IL-2 were also elevated in the serum of
flavokawain A-treated mice. Apart from that,
flavokawain A also decreased the weight and volume of the
tumor, and managed to induce apoptosis in them. In terms of
inflammation,
flavokawain A-treated mice had reduced level of major pro-inflammatory mediators; NO, iNOS,
NF-KB, ICAM and COX-2. Overall,
flavokawain A has the potential to not only enhance antitumor immunity, but also prevents the inflammatory process in a
cancer-prone microenvironment.