Abstract
The plant extracts of Catharanthus roseus L. (G). Don has been used in alternate medicine for years, but the curing mechanism of these extracts is still not scientifically elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro and ex vitro cultivated plant extracts in protecting the model rat against diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Leaf (field and in vitro cultivated) and callus extract were administered to rats that were divided into 6 groups (G1–G6) of 6 each. The animals in each group except G1 were injected with a single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) to initiate hepatocarcinoma. Six different treatments were created; T1 (normal control), T2 (induced control); and the treated groups, T3 to T6, which received field grown or in vitro raised plant extract at various doses (300 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day). The treatments were continued for eight weeks. Biochemical variables like glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and comparative hematology and histopathological differences were investigated. The alkaloid levels of extracts were also quantified. In carcinogenic animals, the GSH (12.80 μg/g), GST (0.38 μmol/min/mg protein), ALP (19.88 IU/L), and AST (43.61 IU/L) levels were high compared to normal. The in vitro harvested leaf extract at 100 mg/kg was the most effective treatment that reduced the levels markedly. Histological analysis confirmed the anticarcinogenic protective role of the plant extracts as treated animals showed recovery in micro fatty changes, and had reduced dilated sinusoids and localized focal degeneration. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantified maximum accumulation of vinblastine in in vitro developed leaf extract (13.25 μg/g) compared to field grown leaf (10.72 μg/g). Vincristine content was also high (3.27 μg/g) in in vitro cultivated leaf extract. This extra accumulation of phytocompounds in extracts may be responsible for recovery from DEN caused carcinogenic damages. The protocol has advantages as preparation of extracts is easy compared to pure alkaloids, which often have toxic side effects.
Résumé
Les extraits de Catharanthus roseus L. (G). Don sont utilisés depuis des années en médecine alternative, mais leur mécanisme de guérison n’est toujours pas élucidé scientifiquement. L’objectif de cette étude était d’examiner l’effet des extraits cultivés in vitro et ex vitro sur la protection contre la carcinogenèse du foie induite par la diéthylnitrosamine (DEN) chez le rat modèle. La feuille (cultivée sur le terrain et in vitro) et l’extrait de callus ont été administrés à des rats qui ont été répartis en six groupes de six (de G1 à G6). À l’exception du groupe G1, les animaux de chaque groupe ont reçu une dose unique de DEN (200 mg/kg de poids corporel) pour amorcer le carcinome du foie. Six traitements différents ont été créés : T1 (témoin normal), T2 (témoin avec induction) et les groupes traités, T3 à T6, qui ont reçu de l’extrait cultivé sur le terrain ou in vitro selon différentes doses (300 et 100 mg/kg par jour). Les traitements ont été poursuivis pendant huit semaines. Des variables biochimiques, comme le glutathion (GSH), la glutathion- S-transférase (GST), la phosphatase alcaline (ALP), l’aspartate aminotransférase (AST), ainsi que les différences hématologiques et histopathologiques comparatives ont été étudiés. Les concentrations d’alcaloïdes dans les extraits ont également été quantifiées. Chez les animaux développant un cancer, les concentrations de GSH (12,80 μg/g), de GST (0,38 μmol/min par milligramme de protéine), d’ALP (19,88 IU/l) et d’AST (43,61 IU/l) étaient élevées par rapport à la normale. L’extrait de feuille cultivée in vitro à raison de 100 mg/kg était le traitement le plus efficace et a entraîné une diminution considérable des concentrations. L’analyse histologique a confirmé le rôle protecteur anticarcinogène : en effet, les animaux traités ont présenté un rétablissement par rapport aux microchangements subis par les acides gras, une diminution du nombre de sinusoïdes dilatées et une dégénérescence focale localisée. L’accumulation maximale de vinblastine dans l’extrait de feuille cultivée in vitro (13,25 μg/ g) par rapport à une feuille cultivée sur le terrain (10,72 μg/g) a été calculée par chromatographie en phase liquide sous haute pression (CLHP). La teneur en vincristine était également élevée (3,27 μg/g) dans l’extrait de feuille cultivée in vitro. Cette accumulation supplémentaire de phytocomposés dans les extraits peut être responsable du rétablissement suite à des dommages carcinogènes provoqués par la DEN. Le protocole présente des avantages, puisque la préparation des extraits est simple par comparaison avec les alcaloïdes purs, qui présentent souvent des effets secondaires toxiques.
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Mujib, A., Gupta, D. & Tonk, D. Catharanthus roseus plant extracts (cultivated in vitro and ex vitro) protect Wistar rats against chemically induced liver carcinogenesis. Phytothérapie (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10298-017-1127-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10298-017-1127-y
Keywords
- Alkaline phosphatase
- DEN induced hepatocarcinogenesis
- HPLC
- Model rat
- Glutathione S-transferase
- Callus
- Vincristine
- Vinblastine