Histological Alterations of Cervical Cancer Following Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC Therapy in Relation to E7, pRb, EGFR and p16 Expression.

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Indonesia, where traditional herbal treatments like <i>Zanthoxylum acanthopodium</i> (andaliman) are culturally used. Investigating protein biomarkers such as E7, pRb, EGFR and p16 can help assess the efficacy of these treatments. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> There were 5 groups in this study: 2 control groups (C- and C+) and 3 treatment groups (each receiving one of three doses). Oral administration of andaliman was performed for 30 days in cancer model rats, after which the cervix was dissected, cervical tissue was taken and immunohistochemistry repair was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with a p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> As <i>Zanthoxylum acanthopodium</i> DC dose rose, cervical tissue E7, EGFR and p16 expression decreased. However, greater doses of this plant increased cervical tissue pRb protein. Cervical cancer histology exhibited increased nuclear size, irregular cellular structure, atypical cell shape, higher nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and various nuclear shape variants. This herb induced tissue to show well-organized non-hyperchromatic cells that resembled normal clusters. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Zanthoxylum acanthopodium</i> DC improved cervical tissue and balanced cervical cancer biomarker proteins such E7, EGFR, pRB and p16.