Modulatory Effects of Some Selected Functional Foods on Physiological and Biochemical Indices of Testosterone-Dimethylbenzen(a)anthracene (DMBA)-Induced Prostate Cancer in Rats

Abstract

Prostate cancer remains a health concern globally, with emerging interest in functional foods as potential therapeutic interventions. Benzyl isothiocyanate, citrulline, and eugenol, found in Papaya, watermelon, and cloves, respectively, have demonstrated anticancer properties. This study investigated the modulatory effects of selected functional foods (papaya seeds, watermelon seeds, and clove) on physiological and biochemical parameters in testosterone-DMBA-induced prostate cancer in Wistar rats. Seventy male Wistar rats (8-10 weeks), were randomly divided into seven groups (n=10): normal control, induced control, combination diet containing 2% of the combined supplements, individual supplements (4% papaya seeds, 4% watermelon seeds, 2% clove), and flutamide treatment. Prostate cancer was induced with testosterone (3 mg/kg) and DMBA (65 mg/kg). Animals were fed supplemented diets, and various parameters were assessed. The combination diet group (Group 3) showed significantly higher feed intake (158.15±13.09 g vs. 88.36-111.48 g in the other induced groups) and demonstrated the lowest final body weight (146.1±10.67 g), with a 54.60% weight increase. It exhibited significantly elevated organ-to-body weight ratios, particularly in the liver (6.38±0.22×10^-³), kidney (1.26±0.17×10⁻³), spleen (1.39±0.07×10⁻³). Group 3 showed the lowest ALT levels (5.00±2.31 µ/L), however, with elevated urea (348.33±142.14 mg/dL) and the highest creatinine levels (1.30±0.20 meq/L). Watermelon supplementation resulted in significantly higher HDL (21.67±4.41 mg/dL). The findings suggest that dietary interventions using phytochemical-rich foods may be beneficial in managing prostate cancer. HDL improvement in the watermelon group aligns with antioxidant properties of flavonoids, which may counteract cancer-associated oxidative stress. Flutamide provided a baseline for efficacy but lacked the multi-targeted phytochemical benefits.