Astaxanthin As an Anticancer Agent Against Breast Cancer: An in Vivo and in Vitro Investigation Publisher Pubmed



M Shokrian Zeini MARYAM ; Sm Pakravesh Seyyed MOHAMMAD ; Smj Kolour Seyed Mostafa JALILI ; S Soghala SHAHRAD ; Ma Dabbaghohadi Mohammad AMIN ; H Ghanbar Ali Akhavan HANIYEH ; Z Sayyahi ZEINAB ; L Mahya LENA ; S Jahani SALEHEH ; S Shojaei Baghini SADEGH
Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry Published:2025

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties, cytotoxic activity, and apoptotic effects of astaxanthin (ASX) on genes and pathways involved in breast cancer in Balb/c mice models injected with the 4T1 cell line. Background: ASX could inhibit some tumor progression by using in vivo and in vitro models. Objective: The effect of ASX on breast cancer was not fully understood till now. Methods: In an in vivo model, 4T1 cells-injected mice were administered with different concentrations of ASX (100 and 200 mg/kg), and histopathological evaluations were done using an optical microscope and the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The real-time PCR investigated the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Caspase 3 genes in mice treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg ASX. Also, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined in ASX-treated cancer mice. Results: ASX (200 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in the mitotic cell count of tumor tissues compared to ASX (100 mg/kg). The antiproliferative effects of different concentrations of ASX were shown based on the MTT results. The treatment of breast tumor mice with both concentrations of ASX, especially 200 mg/kg, elevated the expression of Caspase 3, Bax, and SOD enzyme levels and decreased Bcl-2 expression and MDA enzyme levels. Conclusion: ASX can be considered a promising alternative treatment for breast cancer. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.