Abstract

Breast cancer is prevalent among women worldwide. African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) seeds extract have been shown to have medicinal properties. This study is to determine the effects of feeding T. conophorum seeds lipid extract on 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induced breast carcinogenesis and the expression of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (CYP1A1), benzoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (CYP1B1) and pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (CYP2B1). The lipid was extracted using Soxhlet apparatus with n-hexane. Forty-five female Wistar rats of 21 days old were used, which were randomly divided into three major groups of 15 animals each. Groups A and B were fed for 12 weeks with diet containing T. conophorum seeds lipid extract (10%), and group B animals were administered MC (200 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally after 4 weeks of feeding. Group C animals were fed for 12 weeks with diet containing no T. conophorum seeds lipid extract and administered MC (200 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally after 4 weeks of feeding. Results indicated that CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and CYP2B1 were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in Group B animals liver cells compared to group C with higher expression. Prolonged latency period, reduce tumor weight and size characterized group B animals compared to group C. Histopathology results showed normal morphology of the liver hepatocytes of animals in group B, while necrosis and steatosis were seen in group C. This study therefore showed that T. conophorum seeds lipid extract contains bioactive components that may oppose breast carcinogenesis induced by MC.

Key words: 3-Methylcholanthrene, carcinogenesis, Tetracarpidium conophorum, fatty acids.