# Rosemary Leaf Extract Inhibits Glycation, Breast Cancer Proliferation, and Diabetes Risks
###### Abstract  
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) generated from glycation can cause inflammation-related diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The bioactive compounds of rosmary extract (RE) were extracted and incubated with sugar-protein rich food and breast cancer cell MCF-7 to investigate its inhibitory effect on glycation and cancer cell proliferation, respectively. The diabetic rat was dosed with RE to investigate its effect on blood glucose, serum malondialdehydedehyde (MDA), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, anti-oxidation capacity alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT). The results show that RE contained seven major phenolics ranging from 17.82 mg/g for rosemarinic acid to 0.01 mg/g for ferulic acid on dry weight basis. It significantly lowered AGEs, carboxymethyl lysine (CML), and protein glycation in a sugar-protein rich intermediate-moisture-food (IMF) model. Furthermore, the survival rates of MCF-7 cells decreased to 6.02 and 2.16% after 96 h of incubation with 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL of RE, respectively. The blood glucose, MDA, CHO, TG, and LDLs in diabetic rats of RE treatment were decreased. The RE treatment also enhanced the T-AOC and SOD activity. Furthermore, the RE treatment improved liver function through improving ALP, GPT, and GOT activities in diabetic rats. The results provide important information for the nutiraceuticaltal and pharmaceutical application of rosmary extract.  
rosemary; glycation; cancer; diabetes; phenolics +
Footnote †: journal: MedicalDM and believed to be the important factors in the development of diabetic complications. Many epidemiological researches have concluded that some cancers are usually associated with diabetes [8; 9]. Patients with DM have an increased likelihood of developing various types of cancers, especially breast cancer through AGE formation, which may lead to cellular and bio-molecular dysfunction [10].  
Rosemary (Rosemarius officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is a perennial shrubby herb that has its origins in the Mediterranean region [11]. Nowadays, it has been cultivated worldwide as a common ornamental and aromatic herb plant [12]. Furthermore, rosemary leaf extract is widely used as a preservative in the food industry, due to its abundant antioxidant compounds [13]. Rosemary leaf extract is also highlighted to have pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and antimicrobial activity, which are attributed to its bioactive composition [12]. AGEs are not only inducers of diabetes but also associated with the development of cancer. Although the anti-proliferative activity of rosemary against different breast cancer cell lines has been studied, a comprehensive study of rosemary extract antiglycation capability and anticancer potential has not been well documented [14]. Therefore, in this study, the main phenolic compounds in rosemary leaf extract (RE) are identified and quantified. Then, the abilities of RE to inhibiting protein glycation, AGEs and carboxymethyl lysine (CML) formation in sugar-protein rich intermediate-moisture food (IMFs) are evaluated. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of RE on non-invasive hormone-dependent breast cancer cell (MCF-7) proliferation and risk of diabetic rats are investigated. The results provide important information for nuttiaceu and pharmaceutical application of rosemary extract.