In vivo anti-tumor effects of andrographolide in 4T1 breast cancer cells-challenged mice

• Main Author: Khoo, Mun Hong
• Format: Project Paper Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/91038/1/FBSB%202015%20148%20-%20IR.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/91038/

The traditional therapies of cancer, such as physical surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, is often associated with various unwanted side effects. Breast cancer in particular, which is among one of the most common diseases with very high mortality rate all around the world, has been the central of several studies for the discovery of alternative viable treatment method. With this in mind, we have discovered that the compound andrographolide, which is derived from a common herbal plant found widely in Asian Tropical (Andrographis paniculata), is a potent alternative for breast cancer treatment. The advantage of this compound is that there is no requirement for direct administration into the bloodstream for the compound to be active, as oral intake in edible hydrophobic liquid is possible. The study of the effects of andrographlide was conducted on 4T1 breast cancer cell-challenged BALB/c mice, and it showed that there was 2.0-4.3% decrease in tumor weight between treated and untreated mice. The significance in reduction in metastasis was notable in excised lung tissue with as much as 56.4% of decrease in colony-count by clonogenic assay. The potential of andrographolide is not limited to anticancer activity, as frequent studies of the compound have report the capability of andrographolide as an antioxidant, which is potent for other application such as liver-protection activity. As such, further study of the compound is required to further elucidate the implication and toxicity of this compound.