Antitumor activity of biflorin, an o-naphthoquinone isolated from Capraria biflora.

Abstract

Pharmacological studies with an aqueous extract obtained from leaves of Capraria biflora showed potent cytotoxic, analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. It has been demonstrated that biflorin possesses an in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. The in vivo antitumor activity of biflorin was evaluated on two mouse models, sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma. Biflorin was active against both tumors with a very similar profile. In addition, biflorin was also able to increase the response elicited by 5-FU in mice inoculated with both tumors. The results showed a decrease in Ki67 staining in tumor cells from treated-animals when compared with non-treated groups, which suggests an inhibition of tumor proliferation rate. Histopathological analysis from kidneys and liver showed that biflorin possessed weak and reversible toxic effects. It was also demonstrated that biflorin acts as an immunoadjuvant agent, rising the production of ovalbumin-specific antibodies and inducing a discreet increase of the white pulp and nest of megakaryocytic in spleen of treated mice, which can be related to its antitumor properties.

• Authors: Marne Carvalho de Vasconcellos, Daniel Pereira Bezerra, Aluísio Marques Fonseca, Márcio Roberto Pinho Pereira, Telma Leda Gomes Lemos, Otília Deusdênia Loiola Pessoa, Cláudia Pessoa, Manoel Odorico de Moraes, Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes Alves, Letícia Veras Costa-Lotufo
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 30 Issue 8 Pg. 1416-21 (Aug 2007) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 17666796 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Indicators and Reagents
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Naphthoquinones
• biflorin
• Ovalbumin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor (drug therapy, pathology)
• Female
• Fluorouracil (therapeutic use)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Indicators and Reagents
• Ki-67 Antigen (metabolism)
• Mice
• Naphthoquinones (pharmacology)
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Ovalbumin (immunology)
• Sarcoma 180 (drug therapy, pathology)
• Scrophulariaceae (chemistry)