Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus Potential to Prevent Damage of BRCA2 Gene in Methylnitrosourea (MNU) Induced Female Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer-associated gene 2 (BRCA2) is an anti-oncogene for breast cancer risk. Mutation of the BRCA2 gene can cause down-regulation of the cell cycle checkpoint which can result in uncontrolled cell growth leading to breast cancer. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the status of the BRCA2 gene in the presence of Pistia stratiotes Linn (water lettuce) in Methyl Nitrosourea (MNU) induced female Wistar albino rats. Methods: P. stratiotes plant, 25 female albino rats and methyl nitrosourea were used for this study. A Crude extraction protocol was employed in the preparation of the aqueous extract of P. stratiotes. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of the extract of P. stratiotes was carried out using a standard protocol. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the BRCA2 gene of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from the breast tissues of the experimental rats and amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: The qualitative screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, tannin, reducing sugars, glycosides, steroids, and terpenoids, while the quantitative screening showed that terpenoid was  present in the highest amount (9.05 in 25 ug/ml of extract) while tannin was found to be the lowest (1.09 in 25 ug/ml of extract). The gel electrophoresis of the PCR-amplified BRCA2 gene revealed similarities in the band of the group that received 0.15 mg/ml/day of P. stratiotes extract when compared with the band of the positive control group.  Conclusions: This study shows that P. stratiotes has the potential to prevent damage to BRAC2 gene in MNU-induced female albino rats.

Keywords: Breast cancer, BRCA2, Pistia stratiotes, phytochemical, methyl nitrosourea