title: In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice.
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.
authors.forename: Nadiah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abu
authors.forename: Nurul Elyani
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Swee Keong
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yeap
authors.forename: Kian Lam
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: M Nadeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Aimi Jamil
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zulfadli
authors.forename: Beh Boon
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Mohd Puad
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, 43400, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. noorjahan@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Noorjahan Banu
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Alitheen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; C500809:flavokawain A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002599:Chalcone; D007371:Interferon-gamma