Figure 3.

Ethanol extract of Curcumae radix prolongs survival rates of MMTV-PyMT transgenic mice. (A) For survival experiment, CRE administration was started at 8 weeks of age and continued until death of animal. For short term analysis, CRE administration was started at 6 weeks of age and mice were sacrificed at the beginning of 13 weeks. (B) Graphic represents Kaplan–Meier survival analysis over time with control vs. CRE treatment. The p-value was determined by using log–rank test. (C) Gross appearance of excised tumors at 13 weeks of age PyMT transgenic females with/without CRE treatment. Representative images of tumors excised from control and CRE group. Increased tumor size and larger necrotic areas were observed in the tumors excised from control group. (D) Total tumor weight and single largest tumor weight significantly decreased in CRE treated PyMT transgenic female mice. Values represent means ± S.E.M. * p < 0.05 vs. control. (E) Representative histological images taken of tumors derived from 13 weeks of age PyMT transgenic females with/without CRE treatment. Slides were microscopically examined and images taken. There was no significant difference at tumor grade and malignant progression between each group. Histologically, the tumors were carcinomas ranges from low to medium grade. Scale bars = 50 µm. (F) Curcumae radix extract suppressed cell proliferation in vivo. Immunohistochemistry staining against Ki67 in tumor tissues was done and representative images of tissue sections from each group were taken at 200× and 40× magnification. Scale bars = 50 µm. Histogram data was presented as mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05 vs. control.