Cytotoxic activity of the dichloromethane fraction from Vernonia scorpioides (Lam.) Pers. (Asteraceae) against Ehrlich's tumor cells in mice

Abstract

Vernonia scorpioides has been widely used in Brazil to treat skin problems and chronic wounds, such as ulcers of the lower limbs and diabetic lesions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of V. scorpioides leaf extract on Ehrlich ascitic and solid tumor-bearing mice. The animals were treated once a day with the DCM fraction at a concentration of 5 mg/kg, administered ip during and after the development of the tumor. The lifespan, weight, number and type of leukocytes, number of tumor cells, volume of solid and ascitic tumors were measured. The development of the tumor with pre-treated tumor cells in vitro with the DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) was analyzed and the animals were sacrificed after 7 days. The DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) totally inhibited tumor development when in direct contact with tumor cells, and also ascitic tumor development with in vitro treatment or when administered ip, in loco (after 7 days). Animals treated with the DCM fraction increased their lifespan ca. 2 weeks and maintained their body weight for 30 days. When applied immediately after the inoculation of the tumor cells in vivo, it totally abolished tumor development, with tumor development only decreasing when treatment was started 3 days after the tumor challenge. These data suggest an antineoplastic activity of the fraction. Oral or ip administration of DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) for 7 days did not reduce the solid tumor volume. The cytotoxic activity described here differs from the conventional immune suppressing profile of standard chemotherapy because it increases neutrophil influx to the peritoneal cavity. These results show that, besides exhibiting a tumoricidal activity, the DCM fraction also exhibits inflammatory activity.

Antimicrobial and Antineoplasic Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus

“…The authors also remarked that treatment with lower doses of the test substance caused smaller loss of body weight. The highest tumor inhibition (mean value equal to 76%) attained in this work is still lower than those observed by Pagno et al [29]. The authors concluded that oral treatment was not effective, which is in agreement with the results presented in this work.…”

“…Tumor development was assessed through the determination of ascitic liquid volume in the peritoneal cavity and through counting the number of neoplasic cells present in the ascitic liquid [27,29].…”

“…EAT was obtained in vivo and maintained through weekly intraperitoneal injections in mice according to Pagno et al [29].…”

“…or intragastric (i.g.) application of the test substances for six consecutive days starting 24 h after tumor implantation, based on the methodology of Pagno et al [29] and Zhang et al [36] modified. The test substance CBIN was administered in a daily dose of 10 mL per kilogram of body weight, while the test substances ECB and EFB were given in a daily dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight.…”

Characterization and Antineoplasic Effect of Extracts Obtained from Pleurotus sajor-caju Fruiting Bodies

“…The tumor used in this study was the Ehrlich Ascitic Tumor, obtained in vivo and maintained through weekly intraperitoneal injections in mice [14].…”