Abstract
Phytochemicals are natural plant extracts with a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer characteristics by acting as a cell signalling modulator. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a commercial cocktail of phytochemicals "Breast safeguard" (BSG) in upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes to counteract signalling pathways that promote Ehrlich cells progression. The potent antioxidant activity and total phenolics and flavonoids contents of BSG was chemically validated, BSG treated mice showed a significant reduction at the tumor size, along with significant reduction in the expression of prognostic markers CEA and TNFα and induction of cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase as well as downregulation of Ki67. BSG supplementation significantly diminished H2O2, NO, MDA levels and upregulated the expression of SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH antioxidant enzymes in plasma and tumor tissues. BSG treatment markedly activated P53/Bax/Bcl2/c-caspase 3 signalling for cell apoptosis and attenuated the expression of antiapoptotic survivin protein. Meanwhile, BSG significantly diminished the expression of VEGF as an indication of angiogenesis inhibition. In conclusion, BSG exerted a significant upregulation of antioxidant enzymes which may be involved in upregulating P53/Bax/c-caspase 3 expression and attenuation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis.