Aqueous crude extract of Rhoeo discolor, a Mexican medicinal plant, decreases the formation of liver preneoplastic foci in rats.
There are many plants in Mexico with medicinal properties, some of them used in alternative medicine to treat cancer, such is the case of Rhoeo discolor L. Hér Hance (Commelinaceae family); however, there are not scientific reports that validate their antitumoral property. The present study shows the protective effects of the Rhoeo discolor aqueous crude extract (ACE) against rat liver cancer using the resistant-hepatocyte model. The carcinogenesis protocol consisted on the initiation with N-diethylnitrosamine, followed by the promotion with 2-acetylaminofluorene and a partial hepatectomy. After 24 days, the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase positive, corresponding to altered hepatocytes foci (AHF), were quantified. Additionally to discard a possible carcinogenic effect of ACE, it was first tested as promoting agent instead 2-acetylaminofluorene, and second, ACE was administered as initiator and promoter instead of the whole carcinogenic treatment. In summary, firstly, ACE administration reduced the number and area of preneoplastic lesions with dose below 20mg/kg body weight and secondly, ACE administration neither presented a promoting or initiator effects nor induced the development of AHF. Results of this investigation justify continuing with further studies of Rhoeo discolor components to develop chemoprevention strategies as an option in the treatment of cancer.
Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Centro de Investigación y Graduados Agropecuarios del Instituto Tecnológico de Tlajomulco, Jalisco, Km 10 Carr. San Miguel Cuyutlán-Tlajomulco, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jal., Mexico.
Tábata
T
Rosales-Reyes
Mireya
M
de la Garza
Carlos
C
Arias-Castro
Martha
M
Rodríguez-Mendiola
Samia
S
Fattel-Fazenda
Evelia
E
Arce-Popoca
Sergio
S
Hernández-García
Saúl
S
Villa-Treviño
D000818:Animals; D034821:Commelinaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000032:analysis
D010936:Plant Extracts; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase