The inhibitory effect of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. on colorectal carcinogenesis induced in rats by methylnitrosourea.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.) is a medicinal plant with a variety of therapeutic properties, traditionally used in various diseases including treatment and prevention of tumors. The aim of this study was to present an ethnomedicinal justification that a meadowsweet decoction is able to inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis induced by the methylnitrosourea (MNU) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of meadowsweet extracts was studied by traditional methods. In animal experiments adult outbred female rats received four intrarectal instillations of MNU, one per week, at dose 4 mg in 0.5 ml saline (the total dose of MNU during the 4-week exposure was 16 mg/rat). After carcinogenic exposure one group (MNU) of rats continued to receive standard feed and tap water throughout life. In another group (MNU+meadowsweet), rats were given daily a decoction of the meadowsweet instead of drinking water and standard feed. RESULTS: Meadowsweet extracts showed a sufficiently high content of flavonoids and tannins and also some individual phenolic compounds and salicylic acid. In rats after administration of MNU the overall incidence of tumors was 91% with tumor multiplicity of 3.5. The majority of rats (86%) developed multiple tumors of large intestine (most often adenocarcinomas:88 from 107; index of multiplicity - 2.0). In rats from the group MNU+meadowsweet there was a statistically significant decrease of the overall tumor incidence and multiplicity-by 1.4 and 2.9 times, respectively, and the incidence and multiplicity of colon tumors - by 2.0 and 2.8 times, respectively; the incidence and multiplicity of malignant tumors of other localizations was also reduced-by 2.2 and 3.0 times, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Meadowsweet extract is an effective inhibitor of colorectal carcinogenesis in experiment, that provides support for the traditional use of this plant in the oncology.

Inhibitory Effect of Filipendula ulmaria on Mammary Carcinogenesis Induced by Local Administration of Methylnitrosourea to Target Organ in Rats.

BACKGROUND: The meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.) may have a cancer prophylactic activity, since its extracts exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other effects. We investigated the ability of a meadowsweet decoction to inhibit mammary carcinogenesis induced by intramammary injections of Methylnitrosourea (MNU) to the target organ in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of meadowsweet extracts was studied by traditional methods. In animal experiments, adult outbred female rats received single injections of MNU at a dose 1mg directly into the tissue of each mammary gland. After carcinogenic exposure one group (MNU) of rats continued to receive standard feed and tap water throughout life. In another group (MNU+meadowsweet), rats were given daily a decoction of the meadowsweet instead of drinking water and standard feed. RESULTS: Meadowsweet extracts showed a sufficiently high content of flavonoids and tannins and also some individual phenolic compounds. In rats after injections of MNU the overall incidence of tumors was 90% with tumor multiplicity of 3.1. The majority of rats (86%) developed multiple malignant tumors of the mammary gland (most often adenocarcinomas). In rats from the group MNU+meadowsweet, there was a statistically significant decrease of the overall tumor multiplicity-by 1.5 times, and the incidence and multiplicity of breast tumors-by 1.6 and 2.2 times, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Meadowsweet extract can be considered an effective inhibitor of breast carcinogenesis.

The inhibiting activity of meadowsweet extract on neurocarcinogenesis induced transplacentally in rats by ethylnitrosourea.

Inhibitory activity of a decoction of meadowsweet, given postnatally, was studied in rats at risk for neurogenic and renal tumors initiated by transplacental exposure to ethylnitrosourea (ENU). Chemical analysis of ethanol and aqueous extracts of meadowsweet has shown high content of biologically active flavonoids and tannins. Pregnant rats of LIO strain were given a single i.v. injection of ENU, 75 mg/kg, оn the 21st day of gestation. After weaning at 3 weeks after birth, the offspring were divided into two groups: the first was a positive control (ENU), while rats in the second group (ENU + meadowsweet) were given daily a decoction of meadowsweet as drinking water throughout their lifetime. All rats of the first group (ENU) developed multiple malignant tumors, which occurred in brain (86%), spinal cord (43%), peripheral and cranial nerves (29%) and in kidney (31%). More than one-third of CNS tumors were oligodendrogliomas. Mixed gliomas (oligoastrocytomas) occurred less frequently. All other types including astrocytomas, glioblastomas, and ependymomas were rare. All PNS tumors were neurinomas (schwannomas). The spectrum of tumors was similar in rats of the second group. Postnatal consumption of meadowsweet significantly reduced number of tumor-bearing rats (by 1.2 times), the incidence and multiplicity of CNS tumors (brain-by 2.0 and 2.1 times, respectively; spinal cord-by 3.1 and 3.0 times, respectively) and significantly increased latency period, compared to rats of the first group. No significant reduction in PNS or renal tumors was seen in rats given meadowsweet. Meadowsweet extract can be considered an effective cancer preventive agent especially as a neurocarcinogenesis inhibitor.

The inhibitory effect of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on radiation-induced carcinogenesis in rats.

PURPOSE: To examine the ability of the meadowsweet preparation to inhibit carcinogenesis induced by ionizing radiation in female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) raw material (ethanol and aqueous extracts of meadowsweet flowers) has been studied for the presence of flavonoids, tannins and catechins. Adult female LIO strain rats were subjected to a single whole body γ-irradiation at a dose of 4 Gy in animal experiments. One group of irradiated rats served as control while the other group, starting from the 10th day after irradiation and until the end of the experiment, was given meadowsweet as a decoction of the flowers instead of drinking water. The average daily intake of meadowsweet (dry raw material) was 1 g/kg body weight. Rats were observed for 16 months. RESULTS: The analyzed meadowsweet extracts showed a sufficiently high content of flavonoids and tannins. In irradiated rats after 16 months the overall incidence of tumors was 79.6% (in 82 of 103 rats), the incidence of malignant tumors was 43.7% and the overall tumor multiplicity was 1.48. Most tumors were localized in the mammary gland - 57.3%. In rats that received meadowsweet, the incidence of all malignant tumors and overall multiplicity of tumors were significantly decreased by 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively. The greatest reduction of many parameters has been identified for breast tumors: the overall incidence was decreased by 1.5 (p = 0.0174) and the overall multiplicity and multiplicity of malignant tumors - by 1.6 (p = 0.0002) and 2.2 (p = 0.0383) times, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Meadowsweet preparation showed inhibiting activity on radiation carcinogenesis.