Evaluation of galectin-3 gene Expression associated with Ehrlich tumor of female mice treated by Algerian Ephedra alata ethanolic extract

Abstract Background Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancers among females worldwide. Ephedra alata is a Saharan endemic that may be found in Algeria, North Africa, and other parts of the world. Recently it has become very used by Algerian patients to treat several diseases. Galectin-3 is highly expressed in a variety of neoplasms, and its expression has been linked to metastasis in various tumour cell systems. Methods The present study therefore was conducted to test the effect of Ephedra alata ethanolic extract (EEEA) on Swiss female mice induced with cancer. Determination of the functional consequence of galectin-3 expression in malignant mice breast cells is one of the main Target of the study. The expression of galectin-3 genes was examined in various groups of mice to investigate the involvement of galectins in breast cancer (negative control group, tumour without treatment as positive control, group treated with oral extract, group treated with injection of tumour with extract and protective group which take oral extract before induce of tumor). Results Size of tumor in induced mice with cancer cell were decreased and appear as capsulated after treatment with tested EEEA. The fold difference in Gal-3 relative to control was 32.8 in case of untreated tumor where it decreased in case of treatment with Ephedra alata extract and treatment using letrazol which used as reference drug. Conclusion The alcoholic extract of the Ephedra alata plant was shown to have a positive effect on the treatment of breast cancer cells in the investigation.