Use of raw Euphorbia tirucalli extract for inhibition of ascitic Ehrlich tumor.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of the Euphorbia tirucalli hydroalcoholic extract (ETHE) on the development of Ehrlich Tumor, in its ascitic form. METHODS: we intraperitoneally inoculated 15 Swiss mice with 10.44 x 107 cells of Ehrlich Tumor and divided them in two groups one day after: ETHE Group (eight mice), treated with a dosage of 125 mg/kg/day of EHTE for five days; and Control Group (seven mice), treated only with 0.9% isotonic saline solution over the same period. The treatment was done by gavage. Ten days after inoculation, four mice from each group were sacrificed for quantification of tumor cell number, ascitic fluid volume and bone marrow cell number. The remaining animals were maintained to evaluate survival. RESULTS: The ascitic fluid volume and the tumor cell number were decreased in the ETHE group when compared with the control group, but with no statistical significance. On the other hand, survival was higher in the ETHE group, as well as the number of bone marrow cells. CONCLUSION: Treatment with ETHE after inoculation of Ehrlich Tumor decreases its development and increases survival and the bone marrow cellularity, thus reducing the myelosuppression present in the Ehrlich Tumor bearing mice.

Use of raw Euphorbia tirucalli extract for inhibition of ascitic Ehrlich tumor / Avaliação do uso do extrato bruto de Euphorbia tirucalli na inibição do tumor ascítico de ehrlich

Objective: to evaluate the effect of the Euphorbia tirucalli hydroalcoholic extract (ETHE) on the development of Ehrlich Tumor, in its ascitic form. Methods: we intraperitoneally inoculated 15 Swiss mice with 10.44 x 107 cells of Ehrlich Tumor and divided them in two groups one day after: ETHE Group (eight mice), treated with a dosage of 125 mg/kg/day of EHTE for five days; and Control Group (seven mice), treated only with 0.9% isotonic saline solution over the same period. The treatment was done by gavage. Ten days after inoculation, four mice from each group were sacrificed for quantification of tumor cell number, ascitic fluid volume and bone marrow cell number. The remaining animals were maintained to evaluate survival. Results: The ascitic fluid volume and the tumor cell number were decreased in the ETHE group when compared with the control group, but with no statistical significance. On the other hand, survival was higher in the ETHE group, as well as the number of bone marrow cells. Conclusion: Treatment with ETHE after inoculation of Ehrlich Tumor decreases its development and increases survival and the bone marrow cellularity, thus reducing the myelosuppression present in the Ehrlich Tumor bearing mice.

Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do extrato hidroalcoólico de Euphorbia tirucalli (ETHE) sobre o desenvolvimento do tumor de Ehrlich em sua forma ascítica. Métodos: quinze camundongos Swiss foram inoculados via intraperitoneal com 10,44x107 células do tumor de Ehrlich e um dia depois foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo ETHE (oito camundongos), tratados com a dose de 125mg/kg/dia de ETHE por cinco dias e Grupo Controle (sete camundongos), tratado apenas com 0,9% de solução salina isotônica em relação ao mesmo período. O tratamento foi realizado por gavagem. Dez dias após a inoculação, quatro animais de cada grupo foram sacrificados para a quantificação do número de células de tumor, do volume de fluido ascítico e do número de células da medula óssea. Os demais animais foram mantidos, para avaliar a sobrevivência. Resultados : o volume de líquido ascítico e do número de células tumorais foram menores no grupo ETHE quando comparado ao grupo controle, porém sem significância estatística. Por outro lado, a sobrevivência dos animais foi maior no grupo de ETHE, bem como, a quantidade de células de medula óssea. Conclusão: o tratamento com ETHE, após a inoculação do tumor, diminuiu o seu desenvolvimento e aumentou sobrevida, bem como, a celularidade da medula óssea, reduzindo assim, a mielossupressão presente nos animais portadores de tumor de Ehrlich.

Effects of stingless bee propolis on experimental asthma.

Bee products have been used empirically for centuries, especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of treatment with a propolis hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) produced by Scaptotrigona aff. postica stingless bee in a murine asthma model. BALB/c mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously. After 14 days, they were intranasally challenged with OVA. Groups P50 and P200 received PHE by gavage at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The DEXA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone. The OVA group received only water. The mice were treated daily for two weeks and then they were immunized a second time with intranasal OVA. The treatment with PHE decreased the cell number in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Histological analysis showed reduced peribronchovascular inflammation after treatment with PHE especially the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. In addition, the concentration of interferon- γ (IFN- γ ) in the serum was decreased. These results were similar to those obtained with dexamethasone. Treatment with S. aff postica propolis reduced the pathology associated with murine asthma due an inhibition of inflammatory cells migration to the alveolar space and the systemic progression of the allergic inflammation.