TUMOR INHIBITORY POTENTIAL OF ETHANOL EXTRACTS OF CORDYCEPS (Cordyceps militaris) AND YUNZHI MUSHROOM (Trametes versicolor) ON DMBA-INDUCED BREAST CANCER IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Abstract

Cordyceps has been used as adjuvant therapy for cancer. Yunzhi has also been shown to have practical benefits for cancer patients. However, the synergistic effect of Cordyceps and Yunzhi mushroom in the treatment of breast cancer has not been scientifically proven. In this study, we built a model to evaluate the potential for tumor suppression in breast cancer treatment by the crude ethanol extracts of cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) and Yunzhi mushroom (Trametes versicolor) (EtCC) (1:1 ratio) in Swiss albino mice. After the mammary tumor (induced by DMBA) reached a volume of about 0.5 cm³, the mice were treated with EtCC for 12 weeks. Using EtCC (400 mg/kg b.w.) to treat breast cancer mice showed a reduction in mammary tumor volume to 0.51 cm³ (p<0.05), along with a significant reduction in the parameters of breast cancer number of WBC (4.82 x10³cell/mm³), ALT (46.7 U/L), AST (34.8 U/L), etc (p<0.05) compared with breast cancer group (group) DMBA). Meanwhile, body weight, the relative weight of heart, liver, lung, spleen, kidney increased compared with the negative control group (p<0.05). Histological analysis showed that the combination of Cordyceps and Yunzhi mushroom inhibited mammary gland tumors, helping to restore the mammary tissue structure. Thus, EtCC has tumor suppressor potential by suppressing breast tumor progression in a mouse model. Therefore, EtCC can be considered as a potential herbal remedy for the treatment of breast cancer.