Antitumor Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Vincristine in Mice with L5178Y Lymphoma.

The main objective of research into new therapies is the search for more efficacy and fewer toxic effects in cancer treatments. On one hand, vincristine (VCR) is a chemotherapeutic used in different kinds of tumors. On the other hand, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a green tea metabolite that has shown an antineoplastic effect in diverse investigations, so the objective of this work is to evaluate the antitumor effects of the EGCG/VCR combination on tumor volume and survival. To achieve this objective, the solid model of lymphoma L5178Y was used in BALB/c mice with different doses of VCR, EGCG, and their combination allowed tumor growth and survival time recording. After tumor collection, measurements, and immunohistochemistry for p53, Bcl2, and Cyclin D1 were performed. The results showed that the EGCG/vincristine combination had a greater antitumor effect than those effects of vincristine and EGCG. It can be attributed to the fact that the greatest inhibition of Bcl2 was present in gathering of EGCG harvest with vincristine. Therefore, the combination of EGCG with vincristine has a better antineoplastic effect by inhibiting tumor development and increasing survival on both substances independently.

Análisis fitoquímico de Jatropha dioica y determinación de su efectoantioxidante y quimioprotector sobre el potencial genotóxico deciclofosfamida, daunorrubicina y metilmetanosulfonato evaluadomediante el ensayo cometa / Phytochemical analysis of Jatropha dioica and determination of its antioxidant and chemopreventive effect on the genotoxic potential of cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin and methyl methane-sulfonate evaluated by the comet assay

Dragon ́s blood root (Jatropha dioica) underwent a phytochemical screening showing the presence of flavonoids and terpenes responsible for the antioxidant potential observed in DPPH model for the decoction, aqueous and methanolic extracts. The chemoprotective effect of the root decoction was evaluated in liver, kidney and bone marrow cells of mice using the comet assay. Mutagens were administered via IP: cyclophosphamide (CCF) 50 mg/kg, daunorubicin (DAU) 10 mg/kg, and metyl metanesulfonate (MMS) 40 mg/kg, were co-administered with three doses of decoction 3.72 ml/kg, 10.71 ml/kg, and 21.42 ml/kg orally. Animals were sacrificed at 3, 9, 15 and 21 h after inoculation. The chemoprotective effect decreased DNA breaks at 3 hours in all organs, and longer against CCF and DAU, this effect probably being related to the antioxidant capacity of the decoction.

La raíz de Sangre de Drago (Jatropha dioica) se sometió a un tamizaje fitoquímico destacando la presencia de flavonoides y terpenos, posibles responsables del efecto antioxidante observado en el modelo de DPPH para la decocción, extracto acuoso y metanólico de la raíz. El efecto quimioprotector de la decocción, se evaluó en células hepáticas, renales y de médula ósea de ratón, mediante el ensayo cometa. Los mutágenos administrados vía I.P.: ciclofosfamida (CCF) 50 mg/kg, daunorrubicina (DAU) 10 mg/kg y metilmetanosulfonato (MMS) 40 mg/kg, se co-administraron con tres dosis de decocción 3,72 ml/kg, 10,71 ml/kg y 21,42 ml/kg, vía oral. Los animales fueron sacrificados a las 3, 9, 15 y 21 h posteriores a la aplicación. El efecto quimioprotector disminuyó las rupturas del DNA a las 3 horas en todos los órganos con los tres mutágenos, y permaneció por más tiempo frente a CCF y DAU, dicho efecto está relacionado con la capacidad antioxidante de la decocción.

Antioxidant and anticlastogenic capacity of prickly pear juice.

Plants belonging to the genus Opuntia spp. are the most abundant of the Cactaceae family, grown throughout America and the Mediterranean central area. Its fruit, known as cactus pear or prickly pear, is an oval berry grouped in different colors. Some studies have shown its antioxidant activities which may help in preventing chronic pathologies such as diabetes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of three varieties of prickly pear juice (red-purple, white-green and yellow-orange) in five different concentrations (100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/mL) by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) colorimetric method, selecting the best variety to determine its anticlastogenic potential against methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The results indicate that the highest antioxidant was found in the juice of the prickly pear red-purple variety (PPRP), in all concentrations. Its anticlastogenic potential was therefore evaluated with a micronucleus assay. The experiment was run over two weeks. A negative control was included along with a positive control with MMS (40 mg/kg), a group of mice treated with PPRP (25 mL/kg), and three groups with PPRP (in doses of 25, 16.5 and 8.3 mL/kg) plus the mutagen. The PPRP was administered daily by oral gavage and the MMS was injected intraperitoneally five days prior to the end of the experiment. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in order to determine the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPE). The results indicated that PPRP is not a genotoxic agent, on the contrary, it may reduce the number of MNPE. In this regard, the PPRP showed an anticlastogenic effect directly proportional to its concentrations. Thus, the highest protection was obtained with a concentration of 25 mL/kg after 48 h of treatment.

Antigenotoxic effect of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert essential oil in mouse spermatogonial cells, and determination of its antioxidant capacity in vitro.

Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert (Asteraceae), popularly known as chamomile, is a plant used in traditional medicine for various therapeutic purposes. Chamomile essential oil (CEO) is particularly known to inhibit the genotoxic damage produced by mutagens in mice somatic cells. The aim of this research was to determine the inhibitory potential of CEO on the genotoxic damage produced by daunorubicin (DAU) in mice germ cells. We evaluated the effect of 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg of essential oil on the rate of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induced in spermatogonia by 10 mg/kg of the mutagen. We found no genotoxicity of CEO, but detected an inhibition of SCE after the damage induced by DAU; from the lowest to the highest dose of CEO we found an inhibition of 47.5%, 61.9%, and 93.5%, respectively. As a possible mechanism of action, the antioxidant capacity of CEO was determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and ferric thiocyanate assays. In the first test we observed a moderate scavenging potential of the oil; nevertheless, the second assay showed an antioxidant capacity similar to that observed with vitamin E. In conclusion, we found that CEO is an efficient chemoprotective agent against the damage induced by DAU in the precursor cells of the germinal line of mice, and that its antioxidant capacity may induce this effect.

Protective effect of some vitamins against the toxic action of ethanol on liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy in rats.

AIM: To investigate the effects of vitamins (A, C and E) on liver injury induced by ethanol administration during liver regeneration in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy were divided into five groups (groups 1-5). During the experiment, animals of Group 1 drank only water. The other four groups (2-5) drank 30 mL of ethanol/L of water. Group 3 additionally received vitamin A, those of group 4 vitamin C and those of group 5 received vitamin E. Subsequently serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin and bilirubin were measured colorimetrically. Lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances, TBARS) both in plasma and liver was measured, as well as liver mass gain assessment and total DNA. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, serum AST and ALT increased significantly under ethanol treatment (43% and 93%, respectively, with P < 0.05). Vitamin C and vitamin E treatment attenuated the ethanol-induced increases in ALT and AST activity. Ethanol treatment also decreased serum albumin concentration compared to sham group (3.1 +/- 0.4 g/dL vs 4.5 +/- 0.2 g/dL; P < 0.05). During liver regeneration vitamins C and E significantly ameliorated liver injury for ethanol administration in hepatic lipid peroxidation (4.92 nmol/mg and 4.25 nmol/mg vs 14.78 nmol/mg, respectively, with P < 0.05). In association with hepatic injury, ethanol administration caused a significant increase in both hepatic and plasma lipid peroxidation. Vitamins (C and E) treatment attenuated hepatic and plasma lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: Vitamins C and E protect against liver injury and dysfunction, attenuate lipid peroxidation, and thus appear to be significantly more effective than vitamin A against ethanol-mediated toxic effects during liver regeneration.