Evaluation of the effects of urtica dioica on the antioxidant enzymes in the rats with breast cancer

EVALUATING OF THE EFFECTS OF URTICA DIOICA ON THEANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN THE RATS WITH BREAST CANCERBreast cancer is the most common cancer type and the main cause of death inwomen. The role of reactive oxygen metabolits on cancer etyology is known. There aresome studies about antioxidant effects of Urtica Dioica (UD) on therapy of some cancertypes. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of UD on antioxidant enzymes,total antioxidant status (TAS), Zn and Cu in rats with breast cancer.In the study rats were divided into four groups: a control group (n=15, group 1)feeded with standart rat food, a MNU group (n=13, group 2) given 50 mg/kg MNUintraperitoneally feeded with standart rat food, a MNU group treated with UD (n=15,group 3), a control group treated with UD (n=15, group 4). After 5.5 months rats weredecapited, and materials were taken.There was a significant increase in serum MDA levels of group 2 compared withgroup 1 and 4 (p<0.05, p<0.01). The erytrocytes SOD activity was decreased in group 3than the other groups (p<0.0001), the levels of erytrocytes catalase was significantlyincreased in group 4 compared with group 2 and 3 (p<0.05, p<0.01). There was nosignificant difference in erytrocytes GSH-Px levels between groups. Plasma TAS levelswas decreased in group 2 compared with group 1 and 4 (p< 0.05).Serum Zn levels of group 2 was higher than group 3 (p<0.05), the Cu levels ofgroup 4 was decreased compared with group 1, 2, and 3 (p<0.05, p<0.005, p<0.0001,respectively). The ratio of Cu/Zn of group 4 was significantly lower than group 2, and 3(p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The presence of tumour with palpation was 46.15% ingroup 2, and 13.33% in group 3.In conclusion, it was seen that UD decreased lipid peroxidation, and increasedtotal antioxidant status. We determined that one of antioxidant enyzmes, katalaz wassignificantly elevated with UD, but the elevation of other enzymes were mild. Moreoverit is thoght that UD can regresse the onset and progression of breast cancer with variousmechanisms.Key words: Breast cancer, antioxidant enyzmes, Urtica Dioica, MNU.