Background: The rise in breast cancer prevalence rate across the globe and in Africa is a public health issue. Accessibility to the effective and affordable therapeutic options for the management of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is challenging due to high costs, questionable effectiveness and toxicity of treatments available. Studies have documented the use of complimentary and alternative medicine in contemporary cancer treatment in form of standardized phytomedicines. However, the scientific evidence on their efficacies, synergy, safety and adequacy is still lacking. Vernonia amygdalina Delile (leaf extract). Furthermore, Carica papaya Linn (leaf extract), artemisinin and molecular iodine have been previously reported to have activity against breast cancer but their synergistic effect has not been validated. Aim: This study seeks to evaluate synergistic effects of Carica papaya Linn (leaf extract), Vernonia amygdalina Delile (leaf extract), artemisinin and molecular iodine against breast cancer cell lines in vitro and safety profile in selected animal models in vivo. Four specific objectives where stated: (i) to determine inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the plant and compound combinations in vitro against breast cancer cell lines; (ii) to determine effective dose (ED50) of most effective combination(s) against cancer cell lines using animal models (in vivo); (iii) to assess the acute, subacute, chronic toxicity profile of most efficacious combination against breast cancer cell lines; (iv) to identify and characterize bioactive compounds in the combination that shows the highest activity against breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Breast cancer cell lines: MCF 7, MDA-MB-231 will be used to determine IC50 of combinations in vitro. MTT assay will be applied for quantification of viable cells in culture. Both positive and negative controls will be adopted in the study. Mice and rats animal models will be used for toxicity study and determination of ED50 of most active combinations. Bioactive compounds in combination(s) will be identified using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Standard procedures according to WHO. Graph Prism computer software will be used to obtain LD50. The results will be statistically analyzed using Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 16 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software. Results: Study in progress. Conclusion: This study will provide a significant contribution into aspects of herbal medicine in breast cancer research, as there is limited research and development efforts in respect to new products to treat breast cancer in the African context. The development of natural, efficacious, cost effective, safer, easier accessible breast cancer management alternative is anticipated as a result of the study. Some of the compounds found in the chosen plants may be used as templates for development of new anticancer product.
Comparison of cytotoxic activity of herbal extracts on the most commonly used breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and SKBR3): A systematic review