Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the genotoxic, cytotoxic, and antitumor properties ofCommiphora molmol using normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing Swiss albino mice

  • Original Articles
  • Genotoxicity, Cytotoxicity, Commiphora Molmol, Ehrlich Ascites
  • Published:
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genotoxic, cytotoxic and antitumor properties ofCommiphora molmol (oleo gum resin) were studied in normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice. In normal mice, the genotoxic and cytotoxic activity was evaluated on the bases of the frequency of micronuclei and the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic cells in bone marrow, which was substantiated by the biochemical changes in hepatic cells. The antitumor activity ofC. molmol was evaluated from the total count and viability of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and their nucleic acid, protein, malondialdehyde, and elemental concentrations in addition to observations on survival and the trend of changes in body weight. The tumors at the site of injection were evaluated for histopathological changes. Treatment withC. molmol (125–500 mg/kg) showed no clastogenicity but was found to be highly cytotoxic in normal mice. The results obtained in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice revealed the cytotoxic and antitumor activity ofC. molmol which was found to be equivalent to those of the standard cytotoxic drug cyclophosphamide. On the basis of the nonmutagenic, antioxidative, and cytotoxic potential ofC. molmol as observed in the present study, its use in cancer therapy seems to be appropriate and further investigations are suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tyler VE, Brady LR, Robbers JE (1981) Phammacognosy, 8th edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 157–158

    Google Scholar 

  2. Evan WC (1989) Trease and Evan's pharmacognosy, 13th edn. Bailliere Tindall, London, pp 474–475

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ageel AM, Mossa JS, Tariq M, Al-Yahya MA, Al-Said MS (1987) Plants used in Saudi folk medicine. King Saud University Press, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, p 121

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tariq M, Ageel AM, Al-Yahya MA, Mossa JS, Al-Said MS, Parmar NS (1985) Antiinflammtory activity ofCommiphora molmol. Agents Actions 17:381–382

    Google Scholar 

  5. Satyavati GV, Raghunathan K, Prasad DN, Rathore RS (1969)Commiphora mukul Engl. andTinospora cordifolia Willd. A study of the antiinflammatory activity. Rheumatism 4: 141–143

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brieskorn CH, Boble P (1983) Furanosesquiterpenes from the essential oil of myrrh. Phytochemistry 22: 1207–1211

    Google Scholar 

  7. Leung AY (1980) Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs and cosmetics. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 241–242

    Google Scholar 

  8. Doskotch RW, Hufford CD, El-Feraly FS (1972) Antitumor agents. VI. Sesquiterpene lactones, tulipinolide and epitulipinolide fromLiriodendron tulipifera. J Org Chem 37: 2740–2744

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lien EJ, Wen YL (1985) Structure activity relationship analysis of anticancer Chinese drugs and related plants. Oriental Healing Arts Institute, USA, Taipei, Taiwan, pp 10–21

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cohen BI, Raicht RF (1981) Plant sterols: protective role in chemical carcinogenesis. In: Zedeck MS, Lipkin M (eds) Inhibition of tumor induction and development. Plenum, New York London, pp 189–201

    Google Scholar 

  11. Thompson DC, Constantin TD, Moldens P (1991) Metabolism and cytotoxicity of eugenol in isolated rat hepatocytes. Chem Biol Interact 77: 137–147

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hartwell JL (1982) Plants used against cancer. A survey. Quarterman, Lawrence, Massachusetts, pp 89–93

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schmid W (1975) The micronucleus test. Mutat Res 33: 9–15

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NS, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bregman AA (1983) Laboratory investigations and cell biology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 51–60

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kaltenbach JP, Kaltenbach MH, Lyons WB (1958) Nigrosin as a dye for differentiating live and dead ascites cells. Exp Cell Res 15: 112–117

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fong KL, McCay PB, Poyer JL (1973) Evidence that peroxidation of lysosomal membrane is initiated by hydroxyl free radicals produced during flavin enzyme activity. J Biol Chem 248: 7792–7797

    Google Scholar 

  18. Whitehouse RC, Prasad AS, Rabbani PI, Cossack ZT (1982) Zinc in plasma, neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes as determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Clin Chem 28: 475–480

    Google Scholar 

  19. Culling CFA (1974) Handbook of histopathological and histochemical techniques, 3rd edn. Butterworth, London, pp 73, 126, 159

    Google Scholar 

  20. Al-Bekairi AM, Qureshi S, Chaudhry MA, Shah AH (1991) Uric acid as an inhibitor of cyclophosphamide-induced micronuclei in mice. Mutat Res 262: 115–118

    Google Scholar 

  21. Oleinik AV (1986) Effect of cyclophosphane on lipid peroxidation. Vopr Onkol 31: 97–101

    Google Scholar 

  22. Oleinik AV (1986) Effect of cyclophosphane on bile formation and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Farmakol Toksikol 49: 51–54

    Google Scholar 

  23. Alldrick AJ, Lake BG, Rowland IR (1989) Modification of heterocyclic amine genotoxicity by dietary flavonoids. Mutagenesis 4: 365–370

    Google Scholar 

  24. Al-Bekairi AM, Qureshi S, Ahmed MM, Qazi NS, Khan ZA, Shah AH (1992) Effect ofCaralluma tuberculata on the cytological and biochemical changes induced by cyclophosphamide in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 30: 719–722

    Google Scholar 

  25. Buick RN (1984) The cellular basis of cancer chemotherapy. In: Remers WA (ed) Antineoplastic agents. John Wiley & Sons, Toronto, pp 1–40

    Google Scholar 

  26. Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC (1987) Free radicals in biology and medicine. Clarendon, Oxford, pp 296–313

    Google Scholar 

  27. Borek C (1988) Oncogenes, hormones and free-radical processes in malignant transformation in vitro. Ann NY Acad Sci 551: 95–101

    Google Scholar 

  28. Taira A (1991) Active oxygen scavenger selected from conifaryl benzoate, eugenol, dehydrodiisoeugenol and isoeugenol. Nippon Kakai Tokkyo Koho, Tokyo, pp 3, 263, 481

    Google Scholar 

  29. Shah AH, Qureshi S, Tariq M, Ageel AM (1989) Toxicity studies on six plants used in the traditional Arab system of medicine. Phytother Res 3: 25–29

    Google Scholar 

  30. Berrigan MJ, Struck RF, Gurtoo HL (1987) Lipid peroxidation induced by cyclophosphamide. Cancer Biochem Biophys 9: 265–270

    Google Scholar 

  31. Patel JM (1987) Stimulation of cyclophosphamide-induced pulmonary microsomal lipid peroxidation by oxygen. Toxicology 45: 79–91

    Google Scholar 

  32. Koch KS, Leffert HL (1979) Increased sodium ion influx is necessary to initiate rat hepatocyte proliferation. Cell 18: 153–163

    Google Scholar 

  33. Rozengurt E, Mendoza S (1980) Monovalent ion fluxes and the control of cell proliferation in cultured fibroblasts. Ann NY Acad Sci 339: 175–190

    Google Scholar 

  34. Smith JB, Rozengurt E (1978) Serum stimulates the Na+, K+ pump in quiescent fibroblasts by increasing Na+ entry. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75: 5560–5564

    Google Scholar 

  35. Villereal M (1981) Sodium fluxes in human fibroblasts: effects of serum, Ca2+ and amiloride. J Cell Physiol 107: 359–369

    Google Scholar 

  36. Sparks R, Pool TB, Smith NKR, Cameron IL (1983) Effects of Amiloride on tumor growth and intracellular element content of tumor cells in vivo. Cancer Res 43: 73–77

    Google Scholar 

  37. Trump BF, Berezesky IK (1984) Role of sodium and calcium regulation in toxic cell injury. In: Mitchell JR, Horning MG (eds) Drug metabolism and drug toxicity. Raven, New York, pp 261–300

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    M. M. Al-Harbi & M. Raza

  2. Quality Control and Research Laboratory, Experimental Animal Care Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    S. Qureshi, M. M. Al-Harbi & M. M. Ahmed

  3. M.O.H., Central Laboratory for Drug and Food Analysis, P.O.Box 59082, 11525, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    A. B. Giangreco & A. H. Shah

Authors
  1. S. Qureshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. M. Al-Harbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. M. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Raza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. B. Giangreco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. H. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qureshi, S., Al-Harbi, M.M., Ahmed, M.M. et al. Evaluation of the genotoxic, cytotoxic, and antitumor properties ofCommiphora molmol using normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing Swiss albino mice. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 33, 130–138 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685330

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685330

Keywords

Search

Navigation