Evaluation of the potential carcinogenic activity of Senna and Cascara glycosides for the rat colon.

Abstract

Anthraquinone glycosides of Senna and Cascara were investigated for their ability to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the rat colon mucosa, which are considered putative preneoplastic lesions. Dietary exposure to high doses of these glycosides for 56 successive days did not cause the appearance of ACF or increase in incidence of ACF induced by 1,2-dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH). However, in rats treated with both DMH and the highest dose of glycosides, the average number of aberrant crypts per focus, considered a consistent predictor of tumor outcome, was higher than in rats given DMH alone. These findings suggest that Senna and Cascara glycoside might behave as weak promoters in rat colon carcinogenesis.

• Authors: E Mereto, M Ghia, G Brambilla
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 101 Issue 1 Pg. 79-83 (Mar 19 1996) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 8625286 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anthraquinones
• Cathartics
• Sennosides
• Senna Extract
• Emodin

Topics

• Animals
• Anthraquinones (toxicity)
• Carcinogenicity Tests
• Cathartics (toxicity)
• Colon (drug effects)
• Colonic Neoplasms (chemically induced)
• Emodin
• Male
• Neoplasms, Experimental (chemically induced)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Rhamnus (toxicity)
• Senna Extract (toxicity)
• Sennosides