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2000
Volume 32, Issue 13
  • ISSN: 0929-8673
  • E-ISSN: 1875-533X

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties, cytotoxic activity, and apoptotic effects of astaxanthin (ASX) on genes and pathways involved in breast cancer in Balb/c mice models injected with the 4T1 cell line. Background: ASX could inhibit some tumor progression by using and models.

Objective

The effect of ASX on breast cancer was not fully understood till now.

Methods

In an model, 4T1 cells-injected mice were administered with different concentrations of ASX (100 and 200 mg/kg), and histopathological evaluations were done using an optical microscope and the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The real-time PCR investigated the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Caspase 3 genes in mice treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg ASX. Also, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined in ASX-treated cancer mice.

Results

ASX (200 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in the mitotic cell count of tumor tissues compared to ASX (100 mg/kg). The antiproliferative effects of different concentrations of ASX were shown based on the MTT results. The treatment of breast tumor mice with both concentrations of ASX, especially 200 mg/kg, elevated the expression of , , and SOD enzyme levels and decreased expression and MDA enzyme levels.

Conclusion

ASX can be considered a promising alternative treatment for breast cancer.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
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2024-04-17
2025-09-27

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Astaxanthin as an Anticancer Agent against Breast Cancer: An In Vivo and In Vitro Investigation
Curr. Med. Chem. 32, 2598 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0109298673288774240406053607
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673288774240406053607
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673288774240406053607
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): apoptosis; Astaxanthin; breast cancer; cytotoxicity; MDA enzyme; oxidative stress; SOD enzyme

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