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

Cisplatin (cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)) a potent antitumor agent is now available for the treatment of testicular and ovarian cancers. It is however, not free from its serious side effects including nephrotoxicity, gastro intestinal toxicity, myelosuppression, and ototoxicity. Here we now report that the drug produces peculiar bloating of the stomach in rats and induces acute ulceration.Wistar-derived rats weighing 200-250 g were administered cisplatin(9 mg/kg) ip as a single dose in 0.15 M NaCl. After 3 days the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. The stomachs were removed, the contents analyzed for pepsin and acidity. The inner surface was examined with a dissecting microscope after a moderate stretching for ulcers. Affected areas were fixed and processed for routine electron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry.The drug treated animals kept on food and water consistently showed bloating and lesions (Fig. 1) with a frequency of 6-70 ulcers in the rumen section of the stomachs.

Download Full-text

Parathyroid gland before and after cisplatin treatment

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100128584 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 860-861

Author(s):

S.K. Aggarwal ◽

J.M. Fadool

Keyword(s):

Parathyroid Gland ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Antitumor Agent ◽

The Body ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Hormonal Changes ◽

Primary Mechanism ◽

Before And After ◽

Dna Strands

Cisplatin (CDDP) a potent antitumor agent suffers from severe toxic side effects with nephrotoxicity being the major dose-limiting factor, The primary mechanism of its action has been proposed to be through its cross-linking DNA strands. It has also been shown to inactivate various transport enzymes and induce hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia that may be the underlying cause for some of its toxicities. The present is an effort to study its influence on the parathyroid gland for any hormonal changes that control calcium levels in the body.Male Swiss Wistar rats (Crl: (WI) BR) weighing 200-300 g and of 60 days in age were injected (ip) with cisplatin (7mg/kg in normal saline). The controls received saline injections only. The animals were injected (iv) with calcium (0.5 ml of 10% calcium gluconate/day) and were killed by decapitation on day 1 through 5. Trunk blood was collected in heparinized tubes.

Download Full-text

Cytological changes induced by platinum-thymine in sarcoma-180 cells: Electron microscopy study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010015900x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 290-291

Author(s):

Gustav Ofosu

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Cells ◽

Antitumor Agent ◽

Microscopy Study ◽

Electron Microscopy Study ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Sarcoma 180 ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Cytological Changes

Platinum-thymine has been found to be a potent antitumor agent, which is quite soluble in water, and lack nephrotoxicity as the dose-limiting factor. The drug has been shown to interact with DNA and inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in mammalian cells in vitro. This investigation was undertaken to elucidate the cytotoxic effects of piatinum-thymine on sarcoma-180 cells in vitro ultrastructurally, Sarcoma-180 tumor bearing mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of platinum-thymine 40mg/kg. A concentration of 60μg/ml dose of platinum-thymine was used in in vitro experiments. Treatments were at varying time intervals of 3, 7 and 21 days for in vivo experiments, and 30, 60 and 120 min., 6, 12, and 24th in vitro. Controls were not treated with platinum-thymine.Electron microscopic analyses of the treated cells in vivo and in vitro showed drastic cytotoxic effect.

Download Full-text