Kurdish Studies

Suppression of DMBA-induced cervical epithelial carcinoma by Glycine max (L.) Merr. extracts: Implications for phytochemical- based interventions

Sadia Haleema Proof
Asma Ahmed
Iqra Sharif
Talat Parveen Rana
Keywords: Glycine max (L.) Merr., Cervical cancer, DMBA, Morphology, Histology.

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Although conventional chemotherapeutic agents are effective, their associated toxicity has intensified the search for safer phytochemical-based interventions. Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean) is a rich source of isoflavones, phenolics, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds with documented antioxidant and anticancer properties. Purpose: This study investigated the chemoprotective effects of different solvent extracts of G. max seeds against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced cervical epithelial carcinogenesis in rats through morphological and histopathological evaluation. Female rats (150 250 g) were allocated into vehicle, negative control (DMBA), positive control (paclitaxel), and five experimental groups treated with different G. max (L.) Merr. seed extracts following DMBA induction. Gross morphological alterations of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and oviducts were examined, followed by histopathological assessment of cervical, uterine, and ovarian tissues using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results showed that DMBA administration induced pronounced pathological changes characterized by uterine congestion, hemorrhage, ovarian enlargement with nodularity, cervical thickening, and cervical epithelial dysplasia marked by basal hyperplasia, loss of epithelial polarity, pleomorphism, and increased mitotic activity. Paclitaxel markedly restored reproductive organ morphology and reduced dysplastic alterations. Among the soybean extracts, the ethanolic extract demonstrated the greatest improvement in gross morphology, while experimental group 5 exhibited complete restoration of normal cervical histoarchitecture without evidence of dysplasia or invasive carcinoma. Other extracts provided partial protection with varying degrees of improvement in vascular congestion, ovarian morphology, and epithelial integrity. G. max (L.) Merr.  seed extracts effectively suppressed DMBA-induced cervical epithelial lesions and preserved reproductive tissue architecture, indicating significant chemopreventive potential. The superior efficacy of the ethanolic extract suggests that solvent-dependent phytochemical composition plays a critical role in biological activity. These findings support soybean-derived phytochemicals as promising candidates for the development of multitarget, plant-based interventions for the prevention and management of cervical epithelial carcinogenesis. Further molecular and phytochemical investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and facilitate translational application.

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