Cancer is a broad term used to describe a large number of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation that leads to tumor production. Cancer is associated with mutations in genes controlling proliferation, oxidative stress and other mechanisms. Currently, most antineoplastic drugs have severe adverse effects and new effective and safe drugs are needed. This study aims to investigate the possible anticancer activity of rutin and orlistat which are both safely used clinically in humans against an in vivo (Ehrlich ascites carcinoma; EAC) model of cancer.
Our results have shown that both rutin and orlistat exerted an in vivo anticancer activity as evidenced by the decrease in tumor weight and the exerted antioxidant action (increased catalase content). In conclusion, the anticancer activity of rutin and orlistat makes them promising candidates for cancer treatment alone or in combination with other anticancer drugs specially that they are used clinically with acceptable safety profile.