A Study of Dacryodes edulis Pulp Oil on 3-Methylcholanthrene-Induced Breast Cancer and Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated-Receptor-Gamma in Wistar Rats

Effect of Dacryodes edulis pulp oil on 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) induced breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major cause of death in women, and dietary fat has been implicated among the factors that influence its incidence. This study investigated the effect of Dacryodes edulis pulp oil on 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) induced breast cancer and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-ɣ) in female Wistar rats. The pulp oil was extracted with n-hexane using Soxhlet apparatus and characterized by gas chromatography. A total of 48 Wistar rats (4weeks old) were used and they were divided into three groups. Group A animals were fed with diet containing 10% Dacryodes edulis pulp oil for 14 days before MCA (250mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered. Afterwards, they were fed with pulp oil for twelve weeks before sacrifice. Group B animals received MCA (250mg/kg) to induce breast cancer and fed with diet containing no Dacryodes edulis pulp oil. Group C animals were fed with diet containing 10% Dacryodes edulis pulp oil only. COX-2 and PPAR-ɣ were significantly (P < 0.05) less and more expressed on pulp oil fed animals respectively. Tumor latency period was longer on animals fed with seed oil compare with those not fed with diet containing pulp oil. Results from gas chromatography analysis indicated that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were incorporated into the mammary gland cell membrane which opposed the progression of carcinogenesis animals treated with Dacryodes edulis pulp oil, this indicates that Dacryodes edulis pulp oil is able to oppose breast carcinogenesis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene.