In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice

Title:In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice

Volume: 15 Issue: 7

Author(s): Nadiah Abu, Nurul Elyani Mohamed, Swee Keong Yeap, Kian Lam Lim, M Nadeem Akhtar, Aimi Jamil Zulfadli, Beh Boon Kee, Mohd Puad Abdullah, Abdul Rahman Omar and Noorjahan Banu Alitheen

Affiliation:

Keywords: Anti-cancer, chalcone, flavokawain A, immunomodulation.

Abstract: Flavokawain A is a chalcone that can be found in the kava-kava plant (Piper methsyticum) extract. The kava-kava plant has been reported to possess anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The state of the immune system, and the inflammatory process play vital roles in the progression of cancer. The immunomodulatary effects and the anti-inflammatory effects of flavokawain A in a breast cancer murine model have not been studied yet. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the basic mechanism as to how flavokawain A regulates and enhance the immune system as well as impeding the inflammatory process in breast cancer-challenged mice. Based on our study, it is interesting to note that flavokawain A increased the T cell population; both Th1 cells and CTLs, aside from the natural killer cells. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 were also elevated in the serum of flavokawain A-treated mice. Apart from that, flavokawain A also decreased the weight and volume of the tumor, and managed to induce apoptosis in them. In terms of inflammation, flavokawain A-treated mice had reduced level of major pro-inflammatory mediators; NO, iNOS, NF-KB, ICAM and COX-2. Overall, flavokawain A has the potential to not only enhance antitumor immunity, but also prevents the inflammatory process in a cancer-prone microenvironment.

Cite this article as:

Abu Nadiah, Mohamed Elyani Nurul, Yeap Keong Swee, Lim Lam Kian, Akhtar Nadeem M, Zulfadli Jamil Aimi, Kee Boon Beh, Abdullah Puad Mohd, Omar Rahman Abdul and Alitheen Banu Noorjahan, In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152061507150713111557