Cytopathological, ultrasonographic and hematological studies on the ameliorative effects of Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch root extract against DMBA induced mammary tumors in female Sprague Dawley rats Kumar Rakesh, Bhardwaj Pallavi1, Soni Mridul, Choudhary Sahil, Singh Rahul, Kumar Adarsh2, Asrani Rajesh Kumar, Virmani Nitin3,**, Gupta V.K., Tripathi B.N.4,* Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India-176062 1Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India-176062 2Department of Surgery and Radiology, Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India-176062 3Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 4Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Delhi. *Address for Correspondence, Dr B.N. Tripathi, DDG Animal Science, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, E mail: bntripathi1@yahoo.co.in
**Dr Nitin Virmani, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, E mail: nvirmani@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 July, 2022. Abstract Cancer is a significant cause of mortality in humans as well as animals despite the fact that there have been immense developments in their diagnosis and treatment. Plant based products are also being explored for their anti-neoplastic activity. In the current study, Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch root extract was studied for its ameliorative action against mammary tumors. For this, sixty-six female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (6-8 weeks old) weighing approximately 160±20g were randomly divided into 8 groups. Group 1 served as a control group, group II was administered with a single dose of DMBA (@ 25 mg/kg) and group III was given with standard anti-neoplastic drug Cyclophosphamide (@ 25 mg/Kg bw). Groups IV, V and VI received 70% aqua-ethanolic root extract of Saussurea costus @ 100 mg/Kg, 250 mg/Kg, and 500 mg/Kg, respectively. Group VII was provided with the highest dose of plant extract i.e. 500 mg/Kg and group VIII was given Saussurea costus @ 500 mg/Kg extract after the development of tumors. A dose dependent decline in the severity of inhomogenous ecotexture, echogenicity and ill-defined capsule pattern was observed in the ameliorative groups in comparison to groups II and III. The cytoplasmic and nuclear changes were altered minimal in ameliorative groups in comparison to groups treated with DMBA and Cyclophosphamide. The hematological parameters haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were found to be enhanced in all the treatment groups as compared with group treated with DMBA. The reduction in the aggressiveness of experimentally induced mammary tumours in rat model was evaluated by ultrasonography, cytopathology (FNAC) and hematological investigation has summarized a dose dependent ameliorative effect of Saussurea costus root extract as compared with chemical carcinogen (DMBA). The study emphasizes the anti-neoplastic effect of Saussurea costus on the tumour development and further a validated use of this plant to combat against mammary tumors. Top Keywords Cytopathology, Hematology, Mammary tumour, Saussurea costus, Sprague Dawley rats, Ultrasonography. Top |