Anticancer effects of pH- sensitive carvacrol zinc oxide quantum dots on DMBA induced mammary carcinoma in female sprague dawley rats

Objectives: The current research explores the anticancer effects of pH sensitive CVC-ZnO QDs (Carvacrol-loaded Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots) on DMBA induced mammary carcinoma in rats. Methods: Female SD rats were used, and mammary cancer was induced by chemical carcinogen via subcutaneous injection near the mammary gland. Different concentrations of CVC-ZnO QDs were orally supplemented to evaluate the optimum dose. We assessed the growth rate, body weight changes, tumor volume, tumor incidence and tumor burden in both the inducer and treatment groups. We also evaluated the biochemical parameters (antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, detoxification enzymes, and lipid profile) and histopathological changes in the kidney and mammary tissues. Results: Our findings indicate that CVC-ZnO QDs treated rats significantly decreased the tumor weight, incidence, burden, lipid peroxidation levels, phase I detoxification enzyme activities and increased the body weight, phase II detoxification enzyme activities, and antioxidant status compared to the DMBA alone treated rats. CVC-ZnO QDs treatment also altered the lipid profile of plasma and mammary tissue. Furthermore, histopathological results confirmed that the CVC-ZnO QDs protect against DMBA-mediated damage to the mammary and kidney. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the CVC-ZnO QDs administered at 4 mg/kg b.w exhibited a significant anticancer effect against DMBA-induced mammary cancer.