Inhibition of breast tumor growth and angiogenesis by a medicinal herb: <em>Ocimum sanctum</em>

Pratima Nangia-Makker

Larry Tait

Malathy Shekhar

Eduardo Palomino

^{Tumor Progression and Metastasis, Karmanos Cancer Institute, The Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201}

^{Breast Cancer Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, The Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201}

^{Requests for reprints: Pratima Nangia-Makker, Tumor Progression and Metastasis, Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, Phone: (313) 833-0715 X2466; Fax: (313)831-7518;}gro.sonamrak@prekkam

Abstract

Ocimum sanctum (OS) is a traditionally used medicinal herb, which shows anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, radio-protective and free radical scavenging properties. So far no detailed studies have been reported on its effects on human cancers. Thus, we analyzed its effects on human breast cancer utilizing in vitro and in vivo methodologies. Aqueous extracts were prepared from the mature leaves of Ocimum sanctum cultivated devoid of pesticides. Tumor progression and angiogenesis related processes like chemotaxis, proliferation, apoptosis, 3-dimensional growth and morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor growth were studied in the presence or absence of the extract and in some experiments a comparison was made with purified commercially available eugenol, apigenin and ursolic acid. Aqueous OS leaf extract inhibits proliferation, migration, anchorage independent growth, three dimensional growth and morphogenesis, and induction of COX-2 protein in breast cancer cells. A comparative analysis with eugenol, apigenin and ursolic acid showed that the inhibitory effects on chemotaxis and three dimensional morphogenesis of breast cancer cells were specific to OS extract. In addition, OS extracts also reduced tumor size and neoangiogenesis in a MCF10 DCIS.com xenograft model of human DCIS. This is the first detailed report showing that OS leaf extract may be of value as a breast cancer preventive and therapeutic agent and might be considered as additional additive in the arsenal of components aiming at combating breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Keywords: Ocimum sanctum, Breast Cancer, DCIS, Medicinal herb

Abstract

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