Antitumor efficacy of tangeretin by targeting the oxidative stress mediated on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-induced proliferative breast cancer in Sprague–Dawley rats

Purpose The aim of the present study was to assess the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic efficacy of tangeretin on DMBA-induced oxidative stress in breast cancer-bearing Sprague–Dawley rats. Methods In this study, the experimental animals were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I was control, Group II was DMBA-induced breast cancer-bearing rats, Group III was tangeretin pre-treated (50 mg/kg body weight for 30 days orally) breast cancer-bearing animals, Group IV was tangeretin post-treated (50 mg/kg body weight for 30 days orally) and Group V was tangeretin (50 mg/kg body weight) alone treated animals. Results We have observed the general characteristics of cancer, oxidative stress markers, breast cancer marker, antioxidants and histopathological changes in the experimental animals. We have recorded the body weight, tumor weights, tumor volume and antitumor activity of tangeretin in the experimental animals. Oxidative stress markers, like NO and LPO, and breast cancer marker CEA levels were significantly ( p