Antitumor effect of Iso-mukaadial acetate on MCF-7 breast cancer mice xenograft model.

Antitumor drugs used today have shown significant efficacy and are derived from natural products such as plants. Iso-mukaadial acetate (IMA) has previously been shown to possess anticancer properties by inducing apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of IMA in the breast cancer xenograft mice model. Female athymic nude mice were used and inoculated with breast cancer cells subcutaneously. Untreated group one served as a negative control and positive control group two (cisplatin) was administered intravenously. IMA was administered orally to group three (100 mg/kg) and group four (300 mg/kg). Blood was collected (70 µL) from the tail vein on day zero, day one and day three. Tumor regression was measured every second day and body mass was recorded each day. Estimation of serum parameters for renal indices was examined using a creatinine assay. Histopathological analysis was conducted to evaluate morphological changes of liver, kidney, and spleen tissues before and after compound administration under a fluorescence light microscope. Histopathological analysis of tumors was conducted before and after compound administration. Apoptotic analysis using the TUNEL system was conducted on liver, kidney, and spleen tissues. Tumor shrinkage and reduction in body mass were observed after treatment with IMA. Serum creatinine was slightly elevated after treatment with IMA at a dosage of 100 and 300 mg/kg. Histopathological results of the liver exhibited no changes before and after IMA while the kidney and spleen tissues showed changes in the cellular structure. IMA showed no cytotoxic effect on the tumor cells, and cell proliferation was observed. Apoptotic assay stain with TUNEL showed apoptotic cells in spleen tissue and kidney but no apoptotic cells were observed in liver tissue section treated with IMA. IMA showed clinical toxic signs that resulted in the suffering and death of the mice immediately after IMA administration. Histopathology of tumor cells showed that IMA did not inhibit cell proliferation and no cellular damage was observed. Therefore, based on the results obtained, we cannot make any definitive conclusion on the complete effect of IMA in vivo. IMA is toxic, poorly soluble, and not safe to use in animal studies. The objective of the study was not achieved, and the hypothesis was rejected.

Lactogenic activity of rats stimulated by Gunnera perpensa L. (Gunneraceae) from South Africa.

Gunnera perpensa L. (Gunneraceae) is a medicinal plant used by Zulu traditional healers to stimulate milk production. The effect of an aqueous extract of the rhizome of the plant on milk production in rats was investigated. Female lactating rats that received oral doses of the extract of G.perpensa significantly (p<0.05) produced more milk than controls. The plant extract did not however, significantly influence the levels of prolactin, growth hormone, progesterone, cortisol, ALT, AST and albumin in the blood. The mammary glands of rats treated with the extract showed lobuloalveolar development. The extract (0.8 µg/ml) was also found to stimulate the contraction of the uterus and inhibit (23%) acetylcholinesterase activity. The cytotoxicity of the extract (LC50) to two human cell lines (HEK293 and HepG2) was 279.43 µg/ml and 222.33µg/ml, respectively. It is inferred that the plant extract exerts its activity on milk production and secretion by stimulating lobuloalveolar cell development and the contraction of myoepithelial cells in the alveoli. It is concluded that Gunnera perpensa contains constituents with lactogenic activity that apparently contribute to its effectiveness in folk medicine.