Antitumor activity of biflorin, an o-naphthoquinone isolated from Capraria biflora.
Pharmacological studies with an aqueous extract obtained from leaves of Capraria biflora showed potent cytotoxic, analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. It has been demonstrated that biflorin possesses an in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. The in vivo antitumor activity of biflorin was evaluated on two mouse models, sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma. Biflorin was active against both tumors with a very similar profile. In addition, biflorin was also able to increase the response elicited by 5-FU in mice inoculated with both tumors. The results showed a decrease in Ki67 staining in tumor cells from treated-animals when compared with non-treated groups, which suggests an inhibition of tumor proliferation rate. Histopathological analysis from kidneys and liver showed that biflorin possessed weak and reversible toxic effects. It was also demonstrated that biflorin acts as an immunoadjuvant agent, rising the production of ovalbumin-specific antibodies and inducing a discreet increase of the white pulp and nest of megakaryocytic in spleen of treated mice, which can be related to its antitumor properties.
Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-270 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Marne Carvalho de
MC
Vasconcellos
Daniel Pereira
DP
Bezerra
Aluísio Marques
AM
Fonseca
Márcio Roberto Pinho
MR
Pereira
Telma Leda Gomes
TL
Lemos
Otília Deusdênia Loiola
OD
Pessoa
Cláudia
C
Pessoa
Manoel Odorico de
MO
Moraes
Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes
AP
Alves
Letícia Veras
LV
Costa-Lotufo
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D028083:Scrophulariaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009285:Naphthoquinones; C522781:biflorin; D010047:Ovalbumin; D005472:Fluorouracil