P. Sur

On the Inhibitory Activities of a New Boron Compound and Ultrasound against the Mouse Ascites Tumour

The inhibitory effects of a new boron compound, dihydroxy (oxybiguanido) boron (III) hydrochloride monohydrate (HB), and ultrasound (US) of a frequency 25 kHz on the growth of ascites tumour in female Swiss mice were studied by monitoring the survival, weight of tumour-associated material, tumour cell count, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the haematological parameters of the treated animals. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a well-known anticancer agent, was used as positive control. While HB exhibiited a very significant antitumour action, US alone produced a small but significant inhibitory effect. The combination of US with HB or 5-FU produced an extra antitumour action as compared to the actions of these chemicals used singly. The mechanisms of action of the new boron compound (HB) and US are discussed.

Effect of tea root extract (TRE) on solid tumours induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in mice

The antitumour effect of tea plant root extract (TRE) has been evaluated against a 3‐methylcholanthrene (3‐MC) induced solid tumour model in ICR mice. TRE inhibited the tumur weight and the tumours were found to be non‐necrotic. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a free radical scavenger, in the sera of TRE treated tumour bearing mice was found to be significantly increased while the SOD level in untreated tumour bearing animals was low. Moreover, the enhanced level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in sera of tumour bearing mice were normalized upon TRE treatment.

A New Boron Compound (Guanidine Biboric Acid Adduct) as an Antitumour Agent against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in Mice

The inhibitory effects of a new boron compound of guanidine biboric acid adduct (GB) and guanidium chloride (L1) on the growth of ascites tumour in female Swiss mice were studied by monitoring the survival, tumour weight, tumour cell count, transplantability of Ehrlich ascites cells, precursor incorporation and the haematological parameters of the treated mice. 5-Fluorouracil, a known anticancer drug, was used as a positive control. The most important parameter was the survival time, which increased significantly when tumour-bearing mice were treated with the boron compound. Haematological parameters of the treated animals showed minimum toxic effects when boron was coupled with guanidine.

Abrus (A. precatorius L.) Leaf Extract as a Novel Antitumor Agent

The 50% ethanolic extract of the leaf of Abrus (AE) has been used to observe antitumor properties against the human leukemic cell lines ML-1, ML-2, U-937, K-562, MOLT-16 (in vitro), and against mouse tumor, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells (in vivo). Significant cell growth inhibitions were observed both in vitro and in vivo using 20μg/ml or 25mg/kg of AE, respectively. Depletion of “S”-phase cells was observed with accumulation of “G0-G1”-phase cells in the human leukemic cell line ML-2 using flow cytometry. Significant inhibitions of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis were observed after 24h in treated cells. Morphological observation in treated leukemic cells showed shrinkage and fragmentation. However, the treated cells did not show nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reducing activity, indicating no differentiation. In the in vivo system, increased peritoneal exudate cells in AE (25mg/kg)-treated mice may have been partially responsible for EAC cell growth inhibition. Glycerrhizin is at least one of the constituents of the extract which may have been responsible for such activity.