Cicer arietinum extract as antitumor and protective agent against Ehrlich Solid Carcinoma-bearing mice

Cancer remains a significant global health challenge. Several plant-derived compounds have garnered the attention of cancer research for their anticancer effects. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is one of the top nutritious legumes with promising chemoprotective effects. We previously demonstrated that Cicer arietinum extract (CAE) has antitumor activity in vitro. Therefore, herein, we aimed to extend our findings and investigate CAE's preventive and therapeutic antitumor effects in vivo using a murine Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) model.

Thirty-six female mice were divided into six groups: healthy controls, untreated ESC-bearing mice, CAE pre-treated groups (low, moderate, and high doses), and CAE post-treated group administered after tumor establishment. Tumor size, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the expression of apoptotic (Casp3)- and pyroptotic (Gsdmd)-related genes were assessed. Finally, the immunohistochemical staining for the anti-apoptotic Survivin expression was assessed across different mice groups.

Our data indicate that pre-treatment with moderate and high doses of CAE, as well as post-treatment, significantly inhibited tumor growth by more than 40% relative to untreated ESC-bearing controls. Histopathological analysis showed notable improvements in muscle tissue structure in CAE-treated samples. Mechanistically, CAE exerted its chemopreventive and therapeutic effects via the alleviation of oxidative stress by a significant enhancement of the antioxidant enzyme activities and increased Gpx4 mRNA expression, accompanied by a reduction of MDA and NO levels. Furthermore, CAE attenuated survivin expression, while dramatically boosting the expression of apoptotic Casp3 and pyroptotic Gsdmd markers, particularly in the post-treatment group.

These findings suggest that CAE is a promising anticancer agent with protective effects against ESC.