Effect of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract on tumour pathways in azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract (TCAE) on tumour development pathways in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal cancer in rats by molecular methods. Eighteen paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues, six from each group, were studied in the healthy control (C), cancer control (CC), cancer + TCAE (C-TCAE) groups. Sections of 5 µm thickness were taken from the paraffin blocks and submitted to staining with haematoxylin-eosin. In the histopathological examination, the number of crypts forming aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the degree of dysplasia in the crypts were scored. Real-time PCR analysis was completed to determine β-catenin, KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma virus), APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) and P53 expressions on samples from each paraffin block. The grading scores of the number of crypts forming ACF and dysplasia in the crypts showed an evident decrease in the C-TCAE group in comparison to the CC group (P < 0.05). In real-time PCR analysis, mRNA expression levels of P53 (P > 0.05) and APC (P < 0.001) genes were found to be increased in the C-TCAE group according to the CC group. The expression levels of KRAS (P < 0.01) and β-catenin (P < 0.005) mRNA were found significantly decreased in the C-TCAE group. In conclusion, the effects of TCAE on AOM-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) in rats were evaluated molecularly; TCAE was found to modulate some changes in CRC developmental pathways, inhibiting tumour development and proliferation, and stimulating non-mutagenic tumour suppressor genes. Thus, it can be stated that TCAE is an effective chemopreventive agent.

Pinostrobin attenuates azoxymethane-induced colorectal cytotoxicity in rats through augmentation of apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 proteins and antioxidants

“…Accordingly, scientists have shown the chemoprotective potentials of natural products (plant extracts) and significant inhibitory potentials on the ACF incidence, which were mainly linked with their phytochemical (flavonoids and phenolic) potentials in the modulation of cellular process and mucin productions in different rat models. 52 …”

<i>Tarantula cubensisalcohol</i> extract enhances the tumoricidal effect of capecitabine via multiple pathways in azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer in rats

“…Starting from the 15th week, TCAE was administered at a dose of 0.2 mL/rat sc at 3-day intervals for 4 weeks, and CAP was administered at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day by gavage for 4 weeks. The animals in all groups were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 1 hour after the last administration under ketamine (95 mg/kg, sc) and xylazine (5 mg/kg, sc) anesthesia [5]. The colon tissues of all animals were withdrawn, washed with normal saline, and then placed in a neutral formaldehyde solution.…”

“…When genetic and epigenetic changes in the genes that are involved accumulate over time in the long term, they undergo changes from normal epithelial cells to the appearance of Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) of a preneoplastic lesion characterized by abnormal colonocyte growth and destruction. Such ACF progress into adenoma and adenocarcinoma [3][4][5]. CRC develops in a multistep process because of the progressive accumulation of these changes and mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway [2,4,5].…”

“…Such ACF progress into adenoma and adenocarcinoma [3][4][5]. CRC develops in a multistep process because of the progressive accumulation of these changes and mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway [2,4,5].…”

“…Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract (TCAE, Theranekron D6 enj®, Richter pharma AG, Wels, Austria) is a homeopathic product used in veterinary medicine. Many researchers have stated that TCAE has therapeutic effects against various types of cancer [5][6][7][8]. Capecitabine (CAP) is designed to mimic continuous 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion.…”