Allium tuberosum aqueous extract had curative effects on malignant melanoma in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Cancer is still a disappointing public health problem worldwide; in this context medicinal plants could be visualized as a promising alternative for antitumor adjuvant therapy. Here the effect of Allium tuberosum (AT) aqueous extract on the evolution of B16F10 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice and on melanoma cells in vitro anaerobic metabolism were studied. 33 mice were divided in 4 groups: control melanoma (CM; n=7), AT given orally (ATO; n=9), AT and celecoxib given orally (ATCxO; n=7) and AT given orally and intratumorally (ATOI; n=10), to which 200,000 tumor cells were transplanted into the right leg hind paw. Clinical and pathological signs of malignant melanoma disease progression were evaluated in vivo, while anaerobic glycolysis and redox capacity using methylene blue were measured in vitro. AT aqueous extract were given therapeutically from the time of tumor onset. Results shown that ATO groups displayed longer survival time with decreased tumor growth, while ATOI group no tumor macroscopic infiltration and islands of degenerating extensive necrotic melanoma cells infiltrated by mononuclear cells and fibrosis were observed. In vitro, AT extract decreased anaerobic metabolism in a dose-dependent manner (IC50=1.13 mg/ml) and ATO tumor cells had a greater reductive capacity. In conclusion, AT had a cytotoxic curative effect on melanoma B16F10 in C57BL/6 mice related with a decreased anaerobic metabolism and increased redox capacity of cancer cells, indicating that AT counteracts Warburg´s effect favouring aerobic metabolism.