Chemo preventive potential of fruit juice of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (amla) against mammary cancer by altering oxidant/antioxidant status, lipid profile levels and estrogen/progesterone receptor status in female Sprague–Dawley rats

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (amla) is the best natural fruit with high vitamin C and bioactive phenolic compounds. Traditionally, it has been used to treat various diseases, such as diabetic, cardiovascular, neurogenerative diseases and cancer. To determine the potential breast cancer protective action of amla fruit juice (AFJ), we examined the effect of amla fruit juice administration on body weight changes, tumor mass, oxidant/antioxidant status, lipid profile levels and ER/PR expression in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (0.25 mg/kg/bwt)-induced mammary cancer in female Sprague–Dawley rats. Lipid peroxidation markers (TBARS), lipid profile levels and ER/PR expression were increased and antioxidant levels were decreased in plasma, liver and mammary tissues of cancer-induced rats. The intra gastric administration of AFJ (7.6 mL juice/kg/bwt) was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased TBARS, lipid profile, ER/PR levels and reversed the status of antioxidants to near normal level in cancer-bearing animals. The antiproliferative effect of AFJ was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry analysis. These studies indicate that active constituent or combination of phytochemicals in amla fruit juice could suppress mammary tumor and thereby, it may be used as a pharmaceutical tool in cancer subjects.