Othman, Nor Hayati
(2016)
Understanding the mechanism of anti-carcinogenic effects of Tualang honey (TH) on DMBA (7,12-Dimethylbenz(O)anthracene)- induced breast cancer in rats.
Project Report.
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
(Submitted)
Abstract
Introduction: The multifloral Tualang Honey (TH) and the monofloral Manuka Honey (MH) have been
reported to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects. Unlike the MH, TH is not
extensively studied.
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the mechanisms of the preventive and therapeutic effects
of Tualang honey (TH), Manuka honey (MH) and honey sugars analogue (HSA) on experimental breast
cancer induced rats using carcinogen 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU).
Methodology: A total of 130 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Sixty female rats were randomly
divided into 6 groups with 10 animals per group in each study. Group '0' (negative control; normal rats);
Group 1 (positive control; tumour induction but no treatment). Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed orally with 0.2, 1.0
and 2.0 g/kg body weight of TH. Group 5 received 1.0 g/kg of MH, and Group 6 received 1.0 g/kg HSA. For
the "cancer-preventive" study, honey was given one week prior to MNU-induction and for the "cancer-therapeutic"
study; treatment was given after breast cancer development. The treatment continued until the
120th day when the rats were sacrificed for samples collections.
Results: Results showed that TH and MH treated rats of "cancer-preventive" groups had a lower tumor
incidence, and a longer latency period compared to the non-treated control group. The tumors developed in
all treated groups of preventive and therapeutic measures were lesser in number, size and weight compared
to the non-treated control. The majority of the tumors in the treated groups were of better grade (grade I and
II) compared to the non-treated control group (grade III). The haematological parameters showed that
varying strengths of TH, MH and HSA had a potentiating effect on haemoglobin, red blood cells, packed cell
volume, mean corpuscular volume, lymphocytes and eosinophils, and a lowering effect on total white blood
cells, red cell distribution width , polymorphs, monocytes and platelets compared to the non-treated control.
These treatments showed no hyperglycemic effects and no body weight loss. The systemic administration of
TH, MH and HSA exerts anti-cancer effects through up-regulation of the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins
such as caspase 9, Apfa-1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), p53, IFN-y (interferon gamma) and
I FNGR 1 (interferon gamma receptor 1), and a concomitant down-regulation of the expression of antiapoptotic
proteins such as Bcl-xl (8-celllymphoma-extra large), TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor alpha), COX-2
(cyclooxygenase-2), E2 (estradiol) and ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) at serological and or breast cancer
tissues levels.
Discussion: Our study shows that the treatment with TH and MH appears to exert cancer-preventive and or
cancer-therapeutic effects, is through the modulation tumour grading, body weight, haematological
parameters of immune regulatory response, and modulation of pro and anti-apoptotic proteins of
mitochondrial apoptotic pathway at serum and breast cancer tissues level. HSA also acts akin to honey.
Conclusion: Tualang honey, Manuka honey and honey sugars analogue can be used as prophylactic cancer
and cancer-therapeutic agents. The mechanism is through the modulation of tumour grading, haematological 1
and the modulation of pro and anti-apoptotic proteins at serum and cancer tissues level.
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