Arctium lappa Extract Suppresses Inflammation and Inhibits Melanoma Progression

Abstract

Background: Arctium lappa has been used as popular medicinal herb and health supplement in Chinese societies. Bioactive components from A. lappa have attracted the attention of researchers due to their promising therapeutic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of A. lappa hydroalcoholic extract (Alhe) during different models of inflammation, in vivo. Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through the air pouch model. For this, mice received an inflammatory stimulus with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and were later injected with Alhe. To assess anti-tumoral activity, the animals were inoculated with B16F10 cells and injected with Alhe every 5 days, along the course of 30 days. Controls were submitted to the same conditions and injected with the vehicle. Peritoneal or air pouch fluids were collected to evaluate leukocyte counting or cellular activation via quantification of cytokines and nitric oxide. Results: Alhe injection reduced the neutrophil influx and production of inflammatory mediators in inflammatory foci after LPS or tumor challenges. Furthermore, Alhe injection reduced tumor growth and enhanced mice survival. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that Alhe regulates immune cell migration and activation, which correlates with favorable outcome in mouse models of acute inflammation and melanoma progression.

Antitumoral Effect of Lobelia Inflata in An Experimental Mouse Model of Melanoma

“…The extravasation of proteins occurs due to the increase in vascular permeability, which is typical of the inflammatory process caused by the tumoral activity [1,16,23]. Our results showed a reduction in protein levels in all the animals treated with the extract, providing further evidence for a reduction of the inflammatory process during tumoral activity.…”

“…The urgent need for new therapeutic agents with greater efficacy and fewer side effects has drawn a great attention to medicinal plants with antiinflammatory and antitumoral properties [13]. Recently, we have demonstrated that Arctium lappa extract has a potent antitumoral activity in vivo [16]. Lobelia inflata is an annual or biannual herbaceous plant belonging to the Campanulaceae family, native of North America, from southeastern Canada (Nova Scotia to Ontario), reaching some states of the United States of America [17].…”

Evaluation of the Lobelia inflata Extract in the Histopathological Profile of Melanoma in Experimental Model

“…The intraperitoneal plant injection reduced edema formation and suppressed the release of NO (nitric oxide), IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the peritoneal cavity of animals. Besides, the extract was also injected subcutaneously and reduced the size of tumor improving mice survival [25]. Accordingly, our study suggested and sought to understand which mechanisms may have played a role in tumor growth retardation, in reducing neoangiogenesis and in reducing the inflammatory process represented by macrophages, independently of a specific component of the extract.…”

Green Propolis Compounds (Baccharin and p-Coumaric Acid) Show Beneficial Effects in Mice for Melanoma Induced by B16f10

“…Our research group has shown promising results regarding the therapeutic properties of natural extracts. Nascimento et al (2019) observed favorable results in an experimental model of acute inflammation and tumor progression with the extract of the Arctium lappa plant, demonstrating that in addition to its direct effect on tumor cells, A. lappa extract suppresses the migration of neutrophils, which is correlated with lower levels of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-α [27]. According to Garcia et al (2020), the hydroalcoholic extract of Lobelia inflata contains compounds with significant antitumor activity against melanoma, with reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells, edema, and cytokines in the peritoneal cavity [28].…”