Efficacy of Vitex agnus in lowering prolactin level in mammary tumor induced SD rats

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all cancers in women. The present study aims to see the role of prolactin and Vitex agnus fruit extract in breast cancer progression in mammary tumor induced Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.
 Materials and Methods: Thirty-day old inbred SD female rats of body weight 70-80 grams were taken for this study. The rats were induced with N- Methyl-Nitroso-Urea for mammary tumor development. After the development of palpable and visible tumor the rats were treated with anti-prolactin drug (Cabergoline) and a prolactin lowering herb Vitex agnus Castus (VAC) for two months. After the treatment the rats were sacrificed for antioxidants estimation and histopathological section examination.
 Results: The rats treated with anti-prolactin drug showed benign tumors with hyperplasia and lactational change proving the presence of prolactin in the tumor tissue, whereas the plant extract showed mammary tumor regression by the presence of foamy macrophages in the histopathological sections. Results also showed treatment with cabergoline increased the GSH level and decreased the MDA level compared to tumor induced group.
 Conclusion: Prolactin may have a potential role in progression of breast cancer and Vitex agnus extract showed a prolactin lowering effect and facilitated in regression of the tumor.