ANTI-CANCER AND TISSUE-NEUROPROTECTIVE POTENTIALS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA AND MUSA SAPIENTUM AGAINST IN-VIVO CADMIUM CHLORIDEINDUCED SKIN TOXICITY

Abstract

Background: Cadmium is an established carcinogen. Cadmium exposure resulted in skin carcinogenesis in rats. Furthermore, neurotransmitter-cancer interaction, tissue innervation, and angiogenesis influence cancer prognosis, metastasis, and survival. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer and neuro-protective potentials of MO11 (isolated from Moringa oleifera leaves) and MS06 (isolated from Musa sapientum suckers) against in-vivo Cadmium Chloride (CdCl2)- induced skin toxicity. Methods: Twenty-four adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 4). Group 1 was control. Groups 2-4 and 6 received a single intraperitoneal administration of 1.5 mg/kg CdCl2 on Day 1. Thereafter, Groups 3, 4, and 6 were post-treated with 15 mg/kg MO11, 15 mg/kg MO11 + 7 mg/kg MS06, and 3.35 mg/kg Doxorubicin respectively (Days 1-17). Group 5 received an olive oil dose (vehicle) (Days 1-17). Skin histopathology and tissue-enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays (Tissue-ELISA) of neurotransmitters (Dopamine and Glutamate), biomarkers of myelination (Myelin Basic Protein), drug metabolism and carcinogenesis (Cytochrome-p450), apoptosis (Caspase-3 and p53), proliferation (Ki67), and angiogenesis (sVEGFR) were evaluated in skin homogenates. Data were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney-U test at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Histopathological analyses revealed normal skin histology (Groups 3 and 4), mild skin histo-alterations (Group 6), and gross skin histopathological alterations (Group 2). Tissue-ELISA analyses showed upregulations of dopamine, Glutamate and Cytochrome-p450, but downregulations of Myelin Basic Protein, Caspase-3, Ki67, p53, and sVEGFR in groups 3, 4, and 6, compared with group 2. MO11 and MS06 achieved better anticancer effects than doxorubicin. Conclusion: Overall, MO11 and MS06 possess histo-protective, neuro-protective, re-myelination, anti-proliferation, anti-angiogenesis, and anti-cancer potentials.