Effects of a high molecular mass Convolvulus arvensis extract on tumor growth and angiogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Plant materials represent promising sources of anti-cancer agents. We developed and tested a novel extract from the ubiquitous plant Convolvulus arvensis.


METHODS
Convolvulus arvensis components were extracted in boiling water, and small molecules were removed by high-pressure filtration. The extract's biological activity was assessed by measuring its effects on S-180 fibrosarcoma growth in Kun Ming mice and on heparin-induced angiogenesis in chick embryos. We also examined the extract's effects on lymphocytes ex vivo and tumor cell growth in vitro.


RESULTS
The extract (primarily proteins and polysaccharides) inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent fashion when administered orally. At the highest dose tested, 200 mg/kg/day, tumor growth was inhibited by roughly seventy percent. Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration at 50 mg/kg/day also inhibited tumor growth by over seventy percent. The extract's acute LD50 in Kun Ming mice was 500 mg/kg/day when injected, indicating that tumor growth inhibition occurred at non-toxic doses. It inhibited angiogenesis in chick embryos, improved lymphocyte survival ex vivo, and enhanced yeast phagocytosis, but did not kill tumor cells in culture.


CONCLUSIONS
High molecular mass extract deserves further study as an anti-cancer agent.
Meng
Xiao Long
XL
Bio-Communications Research Institute, Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning, 3100 North Hillside Avenue, Wichita, KS 67219, USA.
Riordan
Neil H
NH
Casciari
Joseph J
JJ
Zhu
Yan
Y
Zhong
Jie
J
González
Michael J
MJ
Miranda-Massari
Jorge R
JR
Riordan
Hugh D
HD
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D031254:Convolvulus; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D028321:Plant Preparations