title: Ascitic and solid Ehrlich tumor inhibition by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. treatment.
abstract: The leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. [Chenopodiaceae] ('mastruz') have been indicated for the treatment of several diseases, among which the cancer. There are no results focusing the effect of C. ambrosioides treatment on tumor development in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treatment with C. ambrosioides on Ehrlich tumor development. Swiss mice were treated by intraperitoneal route (i.p.) with hydroalcoholic extract from leaves of C. ambrosioides (5 mg/kg) or with PBS (control group) 48 h before or 48 h later the Ehrlich tumor implantation. The tumor cells were implanted on the left footpad (solid tumor) or in the peritoneal cavity (ascitic tumor). To determine the solid tumor growth, footpad was measured each 2 days until the fourteenth day, when the feet were weighed. Ascitic tumor development was evaluated after 8 days of tumor implantation by quantification of the ascitic fluid volume and tumor cell number. The i.p. administration of C. ambrosioides extract before or after the tumor implantation significantly inhibited the solid and ascitic Ehrlich tumor forms. This inhibition was observed in ascitic tumor cell number, in the ascitic volume, in the tumor-bearing foot size and foot weight when compared to control mice. The treatments also increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice. In conclusion, C. ambrosioides has a potent anti-tumoral effect which was evident with a small dose and even when the treatment was given two days after the tumor implantation. This effect is probably related with anti-oxidant properties of C. ambrosioides.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses, s/n, Campus do Bacanga, São Luís, MA, Brazil. nascimentofrf@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Flávia R F
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Gustavo V B
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Paulo Vitor S
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Márcia C G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Lucilene A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana Paula S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Elizabeth S B
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Barroqueiro
authors.forename: Rosane N M
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D027464:Chenopodium ambrosioides / Q000737:chemistry*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts