The inhibitory effect of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. on colorectal carcinogenesis induced in rats by methylnitrosourea.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.) is a medicinal plant with a variety of therapeutic properties, traditionally used in various diseases including treatment and prevention of tumors. The aim of this study was to present an ethnomedicinal justification that a meadowsweet decoction is able to inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis induced by the methylnitrosourea (MNU) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The chemical composition of meadowsweet extracts was studied by traditional methods. In animal experiments adult outbred female rats received four intrarectal instillations of MNU, one per week, at dose 4 mg in 0.5 ml saline (the total dose of MNU during the 4-week exposure was 16 mg/rat). After carcinogenic exposure one group (MNU) of rats continued to receive standard feed and tap water throughout life. In another group (MNU+meadowsweet), rats were given daily a decoction of the meadowsweet instead of drinking water and standard feed.

RESULTS:

Meadowsweet extracts showed a sufficiently high content of flavonoids and tannins and also some individual phenolic compounds and salicylic acid. In rats after administration of MNU the overall incidence of tumors was 91% with tumor multiplicity of 3.5. The majority of rats (86%) developed multiple tumors of large intestine (most often adenocarcinomas:88 from 107; index of multiplicity - 2.0). In rats from the group MNU+meadowsweet there was a statistically significant decrease of the overall tumor incidence and multiplicity-by 1.4 and 2.9 times, respectively, and the incidence and multiplicity of colon tumors - by 2.0 and 2.8 times, respectively; the incidence and multiplicity of malignant tumors of other localizations was also reduced-by 2.2 and 3.0 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Meadowsweet extract is an effective inhibitor of colorectal carcinogenesis in experiment, that provides support for the traditional use of this plant in the oncology.

• Authors: Vladimir G Bespalov, Valerij A Alexandrov, Alexander L Semenov, Galina I Vysochina, Vera A Kostikova, Denis A Baranenko
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 227 Pg. 1-7 (Dec 05 2018) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 30114518 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Methylnitrosourea

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Female
• Filipendula
• Flowers
• Methylnitrosourea
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Rats