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.
Vasconcellos
Marne Carvalho de
MC
Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-270 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Bezerra
Daniel Pereira
DP
Fonseca
Aluísio Marques
AM
Pereira
Márcio Roberto Pinho
MR
Lemos
Telma Leda Gomes
TL
Pessoa
Otília Deusdênia Loiola
OD
Pessoa
Cláudia
C
Moraes
Manoel Odorico de
MO
Alves
Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes
AP
Costa-Lotufo
Letícia Veras
LV
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