Antiproliferative Activity by Ethanolic Extract of Red Alpinia galanga (L) Willd in Inoculated Breast Carcinoma Cells of C3H Mice

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Alpinia galanga Willd (galangal) on breast adenocarcinoma cells transplanted in C3H mice. In some previous studies ethanolic extract of galangal containing active substance i.e 1’-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), is used as anticancer by various mechanisms such as induction of apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, antiinflammation and antioxidant.

Methods: This experimental study was designed by post test only controlled design group, using 32 C3H mice. The C3H mice were inoculated with tumor cells and then divided into 4 groups: control group (K) and three treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) given graded doses of ethanolic extract of galangal (225 mg/kobo/day, 450 mg/kobo/day and 675 mg/kobo/day) for 2 weeks. After all mice were terminated, we count the tumor volume of each mice. Ki-67 immunostaining was performed to analyse cell proliferative activity. All the data were analyzed with Pearson Chi Square and OneWay Anova.

Results: This study found that there is marked differences of tumor volume between groups, with control group has the highest tumor volume and treatment group 3 is the lowest. The immunoexpression of Ki-67 has highest mean score at control group and the lowest at T3 group. There were statistically significant correlation between tumor volume and dose of galangal extract, and significant differences among groups of Ki-67 immunoexpression.

Conclusion: Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Alpinia galanga Willd at the graded doses has anticancer activity on C3H breast adenocarcinoma by inhibition of cell proliferative activity and growth of tumor volume. The best result of anticancer activity is found in group with the highest dose of galangal extract (675 mg/kgBW).