Antitumor and Cytogenotoxic Activities of Libidibia ferrea Hydroalcoholic Extracts in Murine Breast Carcinoma

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type among women worldwide, and there is a critical need for more effective and safer treatments, especially for aggressive and therapy-resistant subtypes. Libidibia ferrea, a native plant from Brazil, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and antitumor effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from the leaves (HAFL) and fruits (HAFR) of L. ferrea in murine breast carcinoma models. Chemical analysis revealed several phenolic compounds, including gallic and ellagic acids. HAFR showed three times more total phenolic content than HAFL and exhibited higher antioxidant, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activities, inducing DNA damage and cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells. In a 4T1 murine model, HAFR reduced tumor growth by 94% at doses of 0.3 and 3.0 g/kg without affecting body or liver weight. These findings suggest HAFR's potential as a therapeutic candidate for breast cancer treatment.