Atividade antitumoral e antiangiogênica de Synadenium umbellatum Pax in vitro e in vivo

Abstract

Synadenium umbellatum Pax is a vegetable belonging to Euphorbiaceae, popularly known as cola-nota , milagrosa , and cancerola , is empirically used as a natural remedy for fighting cancer. In this study we assessed the antitumoral and antiangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo of ethanolic crude extract and hexanic and chloroformic fractions of S. umbellatum. Citotoxicity assessment tests in vitro were carried out through MTT reduction and Trypan blue exclusion methods, by using Ehrlich ascitic tumor cells and K-562 lineage. Antitumoral and antiangiogenic activity in vivo essays were carried out through Ehrlich ascitic tumor experimental model in Swiss mice. Ethanolic crude extract was tested in 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg/day doses, whereas chloroformic fraction was tested in 1.2; 2.3 and 5.8 mg/kg/day doses, and hexanic fraction in 0.4; 0.8; and 1.9 mg/kg/day doses, for 10 days. The results showed concentration-dependent citotoxic activity, presenting through MTT method the inhibitory concentrations of 50% (Cl 50) 0.4, 0.1, and 0.08 mg/ml for ethanolic crude extract, chloroformic and hexanic fractions, respectively. And in the Trypan blue exclusion test, cell inhibition was 75%, 68%, and 80%, and 95%, 58%, and 64% for Ehrlich ascitic tumor cells and K-562 lineage, respectively. Ethanolic crude extract in the 25mg/kg/day dose increased the animals survival rate, parallely with the reduction of the amount of tumoral cells, beyond present activity on the tumor angiogenesis, and reduce vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Chloroformic and hexanic fractions, in in vivo essays, did not present significant outcomes. Thus, can conclude in the condition this study, that S. umbellatum shows antitumoral and antiangiogenic activity