Anticancer effect of isoflavone prunetin on benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer mice model

Background: Cancer, a deadly disease seems to be a major concern for the global medical field. Controlling the spread of disease is not only a problem for under developed countries but also the developed countries face a lot of concern in diagnosing and treating cancer. Among various cancer types lung cancer mortality incidence seems to be a global threat. Surgery and Chemoradiation therapies are mostly prescribe for lung cancer patients which renders post treatment side effects. Hence, treating cancer with alternative medicine tends to be a choice at present. Materials and Methods: In this study, we induced lung cancer in healthy Swiss albino mice by treating with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene. The treatment was carried out for a period of 18 weeks; both pre supplementation and post supplementation of prunetin was administered to the mice. Results: The changes in hematological and immunological parameters induced by prunetin in lung cancer induced mice were assessed. Oxidative stress in white blood cells which plays a key role in lung cancer induction was analyzed. The therapeutic of efficacy of prunetin was evaluated by estimating the levels of metabolizing enzymes in cancer induced mice. The anticancer effect of prunetin was assessed by estimating the tumor marker CEA and anti-inflammatory markers. It was further confirmed with histopathological analysis of lung tissue. Our results had proven that prunetin significantly increased the white blood cell count, phagocytic, and activity index in lung cancer induced mice. It also decreased the levels of immunoglobulins and oxidative stress in white blood cells. Prunetin treatment decreased the levels of metabolizing enzymes, tumor marker CEA, and proinflammatory markers in cancer induced mice which proven the anticancer efficacy of prunetin. It was further confirmed with histopathological analysis of lung tissue. Conclusion: Over all our results authentically confirms prunetin is a potent anticancer drug to treat lung cancer.