Propolis May Protect Liver During Breast Cancer Treatment

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Protects Against Tamoxifen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
Food Chem Toxicol, 2009 Apr 23

Tamoxifen (TAM) is widely used in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Adverse effects of TAM include hepatotoxicity. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, has been used in folk medicine for diverse ailments.

In the current study, the protective effects of CAPE against TAM-induced hepatotoxicity in female rats were evaluated.

Pretreatment with CAPE (2.84 mg/kg/day; i.p., for 20 consecutive days, starting 10 days before TAM injection) significantly prevented the elevation in serum activity of the assessed enzymes. CAPE significantly inhibited TAM-induced hepatic GSH depletion and GSSG and LPO accumulation.

Consistently, CAPE normalized the activity of GR, GPx, SOD and CAT, inhibited the rise in TNF-alpha and ameliorated the histopathological changes.

In conclusion, CAPE protects against TAM-induced hepatotoxicity.