Evaluation of the Effects of Bryonia multiflora Extract in a Chemically Induced RatBreast Cancer Model

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effects of dietary Bryonia multiflora Boiss. & Heldr. (B. multiflora) Extract, a rat breast cancer model was used that had been induced chemically with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). In the study, haematological parameters, apoptosis markers (Bcl-2, Bax), and the protooncogene Her2 were evaluated. METHODS: The study involved 47 female Wistar albino rats, aged 12 -14 weeks. Seven rats were selected for the control group and ten rats for each of the tumour and three application groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in terms of Bax between some pairs of groups. According to the Kruskal-Wallis results, statistically significant differences were found for Bax, MCV, MCH, MPV, and PDW (p < 0.05). However, the post-hoc Tamhane test revealed no significant differences between any of the groups (p > 0.05). Her-2 expression was detected in five rats (71.4%) in the control group and only in five rats (17.9%) in the tumour and plant extract groups. CONCLUSION: Bax expression levels were lower in the tumour group and the B. multiflora extract-treated groups than in the control group. The absence of the apoptotic and/or cytotoxic effects observed in previous studies involving Bryonia species in this study may be due to several factors. Similar studies should be conducted in the future to further understand the various therapeutic effects of plants.