Tumour preventive effect of Aloe vera leaf pulp lectin (Aloctin I) on Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice.
In this study, the prophylactic effect of the main lectin present in Aloe vera leaf pulp extract (Aloctin I) was assayed against Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice. The lectin administered prophylactically before tumour implantation regressed tumour size, however, this activity was less potent than that of the A. vera leaf pulp extract previously shown in our laboratory. Accordingly, serum sialic acid and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels, chosen as tumour markers, were decreased significantly by the prophylactic administration of the lectin. The increase in spleen and thymus weights in the group given only Aloctin I, could be explained by the immunomodulatory and mitogenic effects of lectins. These findings, along with lymphoid hyperplasia observed in spleen and thymus, suggest that the tumour preventive effect of Aloctin I could be due to its immunomodulatory activity.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul University, 34116 Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey. nakev@istanbul.edu.tr
Nuriye
N
Akev
Gulhan
G
Turkay
Ayse
A
Can
Aydin
A
Gurel
Funda
F
Yildiz
Hasret
H
Yardibi
Elif Ergul
EE
Ekiz
Hafize
H
Uzun
D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D037121:Plant Lectins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C526351:aloctin I, Aloe vera; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid