Hepatoprtective and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) And Carrot (Daucus carota L.) in Rats Fed Breast Carcinogen

Abstract Cancer has been a menace to public health. Among all cancers, breast cancer is the most common in women. This research investigated the preventive effect of tomato and carrot supplementation in wistar rat administered breast carcinogen, Dimethylbenz-[a]-anthracene (DMBA). Tomato and carrot were dried under shade and pulverized. Forty-eight female rats were randomly distributed into 8 groups. Groups 1 and 2 comprised of unexposed rats fed standard diet and DMBA-administered groupfed standard diet respectively. Groups 3-5 were DMBA-administered groups fed diets containing 20% tomato, 20% carrot, and 20% of an equally mixed tomato and carrot respectively. For groups 6-8, unexposed rats fed diets containing 20% tomato, carrot, and 20% of an equally mixed tomato and carrot respectively. Feeding was for a period of 10 weeks. Phytochemical characterization of the powdered plants was analyzed. Liver function parameters and inflammatory markers were assed. Histopathology of the kidney and liver was performed. Tomato powder had higher concentrations of carotenoids (23.99 mg/100g) and phenolics (0.51 mg/100g) but lower levels of flavonoids and alkaloids than carrot powder. There were significant decreases (p<0.05) in the activities of ALT, (AST) and (ALP) but an increase in the concentrations of TP in the (DMBA)-administered groups fed supplemented diets. All the groups had significantly (p<0.05) lower concentrations of C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alfa in comparison with the DMBA-administered group fed the standard diet. The DMBA- administered groups fed supplemented diets had improved cellular architecture in comparison with the DMBA-administered group fed standard diet. Supplementation of diets with either carrot or tomato reduces the risk of breast cancer in rats exposed to DMBA by ameliorating liver dysfunction, improving anti-inflammatory defense systems and by protecting cellular integrity. coordinated awareness about the importance of including tomato and carrot in the diet as means of preventing cancer and related diseases is encouraged. Keywords: Breastcancer, carrot, Dimethylbenz-[a]-anthracene, inflammatory, liver, tomato