Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the common causes of mortality among women worldwide. Metastasis from breast cancer may occur and commonly affects bone, lung, liver and the central nervous system. Amygdalin (vitamin B17) is a plant compound found in the pits of many fruits e.g. peach and apricot. Intestinal bacteria produce betaglucosidases enzymes which break down amygdalin to benzaldehyde, glucose and cyanide or hydrocyanic acid (HCN).The balance between pro-apoptotic proteins such as B-cell lymphoma protein 2 -associated X (Bax) protein and anti-apoptotic protein e,g, B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) can play a critical role in control of carcinogenesis.
Aim of the Work: This work aimed to study the effect of amygdalin (vitamin B17) on experimentally induced mammary tumor in virgin young female albino rats.
Materials and Methods: Fifty virgin young female albino rats were used and divided into: control group: included 30 rats and experimental groups: included 20 rats and subdivided to: Subgroup IIa: 10 rats. Each received 80 mg / kg (12 mg) 7,12 Dimethylbenzanthracane to induce breast tumor. Subgroup IIb: as subgroup IIa then received 5mg/kg amygdalin.
Results: The H&E stained sections of subgroup IIa showed hyperplasia of the lining epithelial cells of lactiferous ducts. Subgroup IIb showed lactiferous ducts with well-organized layers of epithelial cells and prominent nuclei. Other ducts showed pyknotic nuclei and vacuolations. Transmission electron microscope of subgroup IIa showed large nuclei with prominent nucleoli of the epithelial cells lining lactiferous ducts, increased euchromatin mass and nuclear pockets. Subgroup IIb showed half-moon-shaped nucleus of the lining epithelial cells of lactiferous ducts. Sections from subgroup IIa stained with Bcl-2 immunostain showed increased cytoplasmic Bcl-2 immunoreactivity than control group and positive cytoplasmic Bax immunoreactivity. Subgroup IIb revealed less cytoplasmic Bcl-2 while increased cytoplasmic Bax immunoreactivity than DMBA-administered subgroup.
Conclusion: Amygdalin which is a natural compound had proven its cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells mainly by increasing pro-apoptotic Bax protein.