Effect of selected plants on Haematological parameters of DMBA-induced breast cancer of albino rats

Introduction

Therapeutic plants are various plants used in herbal- treatment and have curative actions [1]. The plant that contains certain bioactive components has been confirmed to have anticancer activities [2]. Sorghum vulgare is of the Poaceae (grass) family and have been known to contain pharmacological compounds [3]. Sorghum vulgare possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative (on cancer cells) activities, chemo- protective, haematopoietic and hepatoprotective properties [4]. Another group of annotation is the Acanthaecae group of which Eremomastax polysperma and Brillantaisia owariensis, stake in the family. E. polysperma have been revealed to have anti-anaemic and antidiabetic effects [5], while B. owariensis have antimicrobial effect [6]. These plants have been demonstrated to possess flavonoids, saponins, kaempferol and high concentrate of ribalinidine (an alkaloid) [7].

Mammary cancer is a disease condition where normal cell control mechanism that manages the survival of the cell, its proliferation and its differentiation is lost. In women around the globe, it is the paramount kind of cancer [8]. Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast – the ducts, the lobules, or in some cases, the tissue in between. There are several diverse types of breast malignancy, with different stages (spread), aggressiveness, and genetic makeup [9]. Regardless of the numerous approaches in the treatment of breast cancer such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, metastatic disease still remains a great clinical challenge [10].

The assessment of haematological parameters can be a pinpointer of adverse effects of foreign compounds on the blood constituents of an animal [11]. Anaemia is a common disease faced in cancer patients (such as cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer) and, as a result, anaemic patients suffer from shortness of breath, fatigue, and shrunk energy. Haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) are indirectly connected with raised risk of cardiac failure in cancer patients [12]. Furthermore, systemic inflammatory response has been identified to affect survival in a number of malignancies, of which white blood cells are key mediators in this response. In addition, angiogenesis a crucial step for tumour growth, progression and metastasis, requires the involvement of platelets [13, 10]. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of selected plants on haematological indices of DMBA induced breast cancer of albino rats.

Results

The results of the erythopoietic indices of DMBA treated albino rats, given aqueous concentrate of the different plants are shown on Table 1.

From Table 1 the PCV level and haemoglobin concentration of all treated groups were fundamentally huge (p≤0.05) than the control. While when contrasted to DMBA untreated group, they were higher, though not significantly significant (p≤0.05).

Table 2 demonstrates the red cell indices of DMBA treated albino rats, given aqueous concentrate of the different plants. There was no significant distinction (p≤0.05) in all the groups for MCHC, MCV and MCH concentrations.

The Result of White blood cells of DMBA treated albino

rats, given aqueous concentrate of the different plants is

appeared on Table 3. From Table 3, the WBC

concentration of DMBA BW500 and DMBASVL1000 was

altogether increased (p≤0.05) when differentiated to the

control and DMBA un-treated groups. Other groups

demonstrated no Essential distinction (p≤0.05) with the

control and DMBA groups. For Neutrophil and Eosinophil

level, there was no significant contrast (p≤0.05) in every-

one of the groups. For L level, DMBASTD (73.33±3.37%),

$$ D M B A S V L 1 0 0 0 \quad (7 5. 0 0 \pm 2. 8 8 \%) \quad D M B A \quad B W 5 0 0 $$

(74.00±1.00%) had fundamentally higher values (p≤0.05)

when differentiated to the DMBA-untreated groups while

other groups demonstrated no significant contrast

(p≤0.05). Whereas that of Monocyte count, DMBA BW500

group had an essentially diminished value (p≤0.05) when

differentiated to the control and the DMBA untreated

group.

Table 4 demonstrates the Blood platelets concentration of DMBA treated albino rats, given aqueous concentrate of the different plants (S. vulgare, E. polysperma and B. owariensis). There was noteworthy increase (p≤0.05) of the DMBA group (346.66±28.40 x109) when contrasted to the control (253.33±14.52 x109) and DMBASTD (233.33±8.81 x109) groups. The other groups showed no noteworthy difference (p≤0.05), although had lower values than the DMBA group.

Table 5 demonstrates the Neutrophil-lymphocyte

proportion and platelet – lymphocyte proportion of

DMBA administered albino rats, given aqueous

concentrate of the different plants. There was a reduction

(though not noteworthy, p≤0.05) of Neutrophil-

lymphocyte ratio (N/L) of DMBASTD (0.37±0.02),

$$ D M B A S V L 1 0 0 0 \quad (0. 3 0 \pm 0. 0 3) \quad a n d \quad D M B A B W 5 0 0 $$

(0.35±0.01) and other groups when contrasted to the

DMBA-untreated group (0.46±0.01) except DMBA

E.P.1000 which had similar values with the DMBA-

untreated group. For the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (P/L),

it was not significant (p≤0.05), in all the groups.

Discussion

Complete blood count reflects the response of cellular immunity in a patient with cancer [12]. The Erythopoietic indices of DMBA administered albino rats, given aqueous concentrate of the different plants is appeared on Table 1 & 2. For PCV and Hb concentration, there was significant increase (p≤0.05) in all the treated groups when contrasted with the control and DMBA group (p≤0.05). There was additionally increase in the RBC level in all groups when compared with the control and DMBA- untreated group, however not significant (p≤0.05). The MCHC, MCV and MCH levels demonstrated no striking significance (p≤0.05) in all of the groups. Red blood cell, haemoglobin and Packed cell volume are markers of anaemia, predicting the increased danger of cancer patients' death due to heart attack [16, 11]. Anaemia is observed commonly in cancer patients, which might result from bleeding, nutritional deficiencies, damage of the bone marrow, tumour infiltration and malignancy [17]. The various plants have shown to have anti-anaemic properties; this might be due to the high concentration of iron present in these plants and thus reduce risk of death of patients with cancer from heart failure. This commensurate with the works of Zingue, et al. [18], which demonstrated that ethanolic extract of Acacia seyal on DMBA-induced mammary tumours were able to increase MCV, MCHC, MCH, RBC, PCV and haemoglobin concentration when contrasted to the DMBA un-treated animals.

Table 3 demonstrates the white blood cell of DMBA administered albino rats, given the different plants extract. There was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the white blood cell level of animals treated with 1000mg/kg of Sorghum vulgare leaf sheath and 1000mg/kg Eremomastax polysperma when compared with the control and DMBA-untreated group (Table 3). The DMBA group had the most reduced white blood cell level (however not significant, p ≤ 0.05). A white blood cells (WBCs) level below normal, pose more at risk for infection [19], whereas a higher WBC counts increases risk of developing invasive breast [13]. There was no significant difference (p≤0.05) in the neutrophil values in spite of the fact that, DMBASVL1000, DMBABW500 had lower values than the DMBA and DMBASTD groups, indicting the functionality of these extracts, since a high neutrophil count decreases overall survival frequency of patients with cancer of the breast [13]. For the lymphocyte count, DMBASTD, DMBASVL1000 and DMBA BW500 had significantly higher values (p≤0.05) when compared to the DMBA-untreated group. DMBASVL500 and DMBAE.P.500 had higher values also, when compared to the DMBA-untreated group (though not significantly different, p≤0.05). Lymphocytes fights cancer, with low levels of it in the blood encourages a relapse and decreased survival rates, while higher lymphocyte count increases the overall survival [16]. These results are in commensurate with those of Chen, et al. [20], which showed that Pueriariae radix was able to reduce WBC, Neutrophil and lymphocyte levels of DMBA-induced mammary cancer.

Table 4 shows the Blood platelets concentration of DMBA treated albino rats, given aqueous extract of the various plants. There was noteworthy increase (p≤0.05) in the DMBA-untreated group when compared with the control and DMBASTD group. The various treated group had lesser values than the DMBA-untreated group (however not significant, p≤0.05). A high platelet count is associated with prognosis of gynaecological cancers [13], since it secretes various growth factors and cytokines that promote angiogenesis; which is a critical step in breast cancer metastasis [21]. The result from the study showed lower values of platelet count, indicating the usefulness of this extract in reducing blood platelet, and hence angiogenesis. This result is also in line with those of [18], that ethanolic extract of Acacia seyal on DMBA induced mammary tumours were able to reduce platelet concentration when compared to the DMBA-untreated group.

For Neutrophil-lymphocyte proportion (N/L), (Table 5) there was a significant decrease (p≤0.05) in DMBASTD, DMBASVL1000 and DMBA BW.500 when compared with the DMBA-untreated groups while DMBASVL500 and DMBAE.P.500 had lessened values (however not critical, p≤0.05). This show the concentrates would be utilized to enhance the survival rate of breast malignancy patients, since a lessened N/L expands the general survival rate [13]. For the platelet to lymphocyte proportion (Table 5) there was decrease in all the treated groups when analogized with DMBA-untreated group aside from DMBAE.P1000 group when compared with the control. This outcome proposes that the concentrates could likewise enhance incredibly the survival rate of breast malignancy patients, since a decreased P/L proportion protracts their life expectancy [22, 10].

Conclusion

In conclusion, the aqueous extract of Sorghum vulgare leaf-sheath, Eremomastax polysperma and Brillantaisia owariensis leaves have been able to increase red blood cell indices and reduces platelets concentration and stabilize the white blood cell, enabling it to reduce anaemic burden caused by cancer and possibly inflammation.