Therapeutic effect of hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum L. against N-Nitroso-N-Methylurea-induced mammary tumors in Wistar rats

This study evaluated the therapeutic action of hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum L. (TPE) on N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU)-induced mammary tumors in Wistar rats. A hydroethanolic was prepared and subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening. After acclimatization, Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each: Group A (vehicle control), Group B (TPE control), Group C (TPE treatment) and group D (NMU control). NMU (50 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally at 50, 80 and 110 days of age. After the induction of palpable tumors,the rats were administered 200 mg/kg bw of TPE by oral gavage for 2 months. The treatment with TPE significantly (p<0.05) decreased tumor incidence, frequency, size and malignancy in comparison to the tumor-bearing rats that were not administered TPE. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TPE treatment significantly reduced the expression of PCNA, VEGF, ER-α and ER-β, and caused non-significant reductions in matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9). Caspase-3 expression significantly increased in TPE-treated rats in comparison with NMU-treated controls. The qRT-PCR resultsshowed PCNA and ER-β expression was down regulated and caspase-3 expression was up regulated in the TPE-treated group. The present study showed the in vivo therapeutic action of TPE extract on NMU-induced mammary tumors. TPE exhibited antitumor activity through its antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, pro-apoptotic, and estrogen receptor-modulatory properties

Carcinogenicity of the fern Pteridium aquilinum collected from enzootic bovine haematuria-free hilly area in India

Chronic exposure in low doses to bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum, family Pteridiaceae) has been associated with urinary bladder tumours and intermittent haematuria in bovines of hilly areas. In spite of the widespread distribution of the fern in the Himalayas and southern hills of the country, the disease is restricted to well-defined pockets. The possible reason for absence of the disease in other hilly areas even in presence of P. aquilinum could be due to lack of carcinogenic potential in the plant growing in such areas. In the present study, the fern was collected from an area where cases of bovine urinary bladder cancer and associated haematuria (enzootic bovine haematuria) have not been recorded. In these areas animals are left for grazing during rainy season. This fern was fed to guinea pigs for 30 months at the rate of 30% (w/w). The fern caused toxic and neoplastic changes in urinary bladders of the exposed animals. The incidence of tumours was 18.6%. The fern was found positive for the carcinogen ptaquiloside (3.74 +/- 0.6 mg/kg). The low level of ptaquiloside as compared to the values reported from elsewhere (0 to 9,776 mg/ kg; mean 1,257 mg/kg) and grazing during the period when grasses are abundant are perhaps the reasons for absence of the disease in such areas

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Exposure to the fern Onychium contiguum causes increase in lipid peroxidation and alters antioxidant status in urinary bladder

The status of lipid peroxidation, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol was studied in the urinary bladder of guinea pigs exposed to the carcinogenic fern Onychium contiguum. There was significant increase in the preformed lipid peroxides in the urinary bladders from fern exposed animals. The amount of lipid peroxides produced on incubation of urinary bladder homogenates with or without catalyst was significantly higher in the fern exposed animals. The concentrations of glutathione and alpha-tocopherol and the activities of glutathione reductase and catalase were elevated in the urinary bladders of the animals exposed to the fern. No effect was observed on the concentration of ascorbic acid and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase. It is summarized that the fern toxins increased oxidative stress in the urinary bladder and antioxidant status was altered. However, the altered antioxidant status did not provide protection from the toxin induced injury. Histopathology of the urinary bladder in the fern exposed animals revealed oedema, haemorrhages, and congestion. This is the first study to show increase in lipid peroxidation along with altered antioxidant status in the urinary bladder of fern exposed animals

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Biochemical alterations in the blood plasma of rats associated with hepatotoxicity induced by Eupatorium adenophorum

Eupatorium adenophorum (Crofton weed), a native of Central America. has appeared as a major weed in several areas in different parts of the world. Horses that eat this plant are poisoned on prolonged exposure. Toxicity due to consumption of this plant by other grazing animals is not clear. Administration of freeze-dried leaf powder to mice results in hepatotoxicity. Earlier attempts to produce toxicity in rats using the leaves of this plant were not successful. In the present study, administration of oven-dried E. adenophorum leaves collected at the flowering stage elicited hepatotoxicity in rats. The affected animals had a marked increase in the concentration of plasma bilirubin and in the activities of 5'-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. There were no significant differences in plasma creatinine, urea or total protein values in the affected animals compared to controls. The livers of the affected animals had focal areas of necrosis throughout the parenchyma and hepatocytes showed megalocytosis. The bile ducts were dilated and the epithelium showed degenerative to necrotic changes. The alterations in bilirubin, enzymes and histopathological changes imply cholestasis and liver injury

Investigating the Trypanocidal Activity of Purified Precocene I by Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography from Essential Oil of Ageratum houstonianum Aerial Parts

Investigating the Trypanocidal Activity of Purified Precocene I by Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography from Essential Oil of Ageratum houstonianum Aerial Part