Chemopreventive effect of a yerba mate extract on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice

Yerba mate ( Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill. Aquifoliaceae ) is a plant native to South America with numerous medicinal properties, mainly attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds. Several studies have shown that these bioactive compounds can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, including cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the chemopreventive effect of yerba mate extract (YMe) against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice of both sexes. Colon tumors were induced by weekly intraperitoneal injections of DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) for 14 weeks. YMe (1.6 g/kg body weight/day) or maltodextrin (vehicle control) was administered to the animals via drinking water, starting four weeks before the first DMH injection, and continued until the end of the experiment. Presence of colonic lesions and incidence of animals with neoplastic tissue was confirmed by macroscopic examination and histopathological analysis. YMe treatment completely inhibited the development of tumor lesions in the colon of female mice, all of which exhibited a normal colonic mucosal architecture. In contrast, tubular and tubulo-villous adenomas were observed in male mice of both DMH-treated groups, regardless of YMe administration. These findings demonstrate a sex-specific chemopreventive effect of YMe against DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis, with significant protection observed in females but not in males. Further experiments are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Our results suggest that yerba mate could be used as a natural agent for colorectal cancer prevention and support its potential role in dietary-based chemopreventive strategies.