Effect of Diets, Familial History, and Alternative Therapies on Genomic Instability of Breast Cancer Patients.

This study evaluates a correlation between family history, micronutrients intake, and alternative therapies with genetic instability, before and during breast cancer treatment. For this study, a total of 150 women were selected. Among those, 50 women were breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, while 50 breast cancer patients were on radiotherapy, and 50 were healthy females. All the participants signed the informed consent form and answered the public health questionnaire. Samples of buccal epithelial and peripheral blood cells were collected and analyzed through micronucleus and comet assays. The cells were evaluated for apoptosis and DNA damage. Results showed the association of patients' family history with an increase in toxicogenetic damage before and during cancer therapy. On the other hand, patients with late-onset cancer also presented genetic instability before and during therapy, along with those who did not take sufficient vegetables and alternative therapies. A positive correlation was observed between the genetic instability and alternative therapies, while inverse correlation was recorded with the vegetable consumption. Results clearly explain that the nutritional aspects and alternative therapies influence the genetic instability before and during cancer therapies especially in radiotherapy treated patients. Our data could be used for the monitoring therapies and management of breast cancer patients.

Mutagenic, antioxidant and wound healing properties of Aloe vera.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aloe vera is a widely used medicinal plant for its various biological activities. This study evaluate possible mutagenic and healing effects of the aqueous extract of A. vera (AEAV) in mice and its oxidant/antioxidant potential in different proficient and deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The AEAV was topically treated on the wounded skin surface of male albino mice at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg for seven successive days. The control group was similarly treated with 0.9% NaCl solution. For oxidative/anti-oxidative evaluation, both proficient and deficient strains of S. cerevisiae [cytoplasmic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase mutant (SOD: Sod1Δ and Sod2Δ), cytoplasmic catalase mutant (CAT: Cat1Δ)], two double defective mutants of Sod1 and Sod2 and Sod1 and Cat1 genes along with a wild-type strains were used. RESULTS: The healing property of AEAV was observed at the dose of 50 mg/kg but at the same dose it showed mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in peripheral blood. AEAV did not produce the oxidizing effect, except in the mutated CAT strain at highest concentration (50 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: The high concentration of AEAV showed mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Beside, the healing capacity is believed to be due to its anti-oxidative defense mechanism.