title: Protective effect of Dunaliella salina (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) against experimentally induced fibrosarcoma on wistar rats.
abstract: The beta-carotene-yielding microalga, Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teod. maintained in De Walne's medium was harvested and lyophilized. Fibrosarcoma was induced in rats by 20-methylcholanthrene. 0.5 g and 1.0 g of lyophilized D. salina powder was administered to the rats orally through carboxy methyl cellulose. Cisplatin was administered along with vitamin E to compare the protective effect of D. salina against fibrosarcoma. Administration of D. salina decreased the levels of cholesterol and lactate dehydrogenase as well as the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, serum aspartate aminotransaminase, serum alanine aminotransferase, when compared to control. A significant reduction in the levels of hepatic and renal RNA and DNA was observed in the sarcoma rats when treated with D. salina powder. Histopathological studies of tumor tissues showed regenerative and regressive changes. beta-carotene globules isolated from the powder of Dunaliella salina confirmed the presence of 9-cis-beta-carotene and all-trans-beta-carotene.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India. rraja307@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Rathinam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemaiswarya
authors.forename: Dakshanamoorthy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balasubramanyam
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rengasamy
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005612:Freeze Drying; D008297:Male; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D019207:beta Carotene; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase