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The inhibiting activity of meadowsweet extract on neurocarcinogenesis induced transplacentally in rats by ethylnitrosourea

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Abstract

Inhibitory activity of a decoction of meadowsweet, given postnatally, was studied in rats at risk for neurogenic and renal tumors initiated by transplacental exposure to ethylnitrosourea (ENU). Chemical analysis of ethanol and aqueous extracts of meadowsweet has shown high content of biologically active flavonoids and tannins. Pregnant rats of LIO strain were given a single i.v. injection of ENU, 75 mg/kg, оn the 21st day of gestation. After weaning at 3 weeks after birth, the offspring were divided into two groups: the first was a positive control (ENU), while rats in the second group (ENU + meadowsweet) were given daily a decoction of meadowsweet as drinking water throughout their lifetime. All rats of the first group (ENU) developed multiple malignant tumors, which occurred in brain (86%), spinal cord (43%), peripheral and cranial nerves (29%) and in kidney (31%). More than one-third of CNS tumors were oligodendrogliomas. Mixed gliomas (oligoastrocytomas) occurred less frequently. All other types including astrocytomas, glioblastomas, and ependymomas were rare. All PNS tumors were neurinomas (schwannomas). The spectrum of tumors was similar in rats of the second group. Postnatal consumption of meadowsweet significantly reduced number of tumor-bearing rats (by 1.2 times), the incidence and multiplicity of CNS tumors (brain—by 2.0 and 2.1 times, respectively; spinal cord—by 3.1 and 3.0 times, respectively) and significantly increased latency period, compared to rats of the first group. No significant reduction in PNS or renal tumors was seen in rats given meadowsweet. Meadowsweet extract can be considered an effective cancer preventive agent especially as a neurocarcinogenesis inhibitor.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially financially supported by Government of Russian Federation, Grant 074-U01. The authors wish to thank Professor Jerry M. Rice, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA for scientific advice and editorial suggestions on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cancer Chemoprevention and Oncopharmacology, N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, 197758, Russia

    Vladimir G. Bespalov & Valerij A. Alexandrov

  2. Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

    Galina I. Vysochina & Vera А. Kostikova

  3. International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, 191002, Russia

    Vladimir G. Bespalov, Valerij A. Alexandrov & Denis A. Baranenko

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  1. Vladimir G. Bespalov
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  2. Valerij A. Alexandrov
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  4. Vera А. Kostikova
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Correspondence to Vladimir G. Bespalov.

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Bespalov, V.G., Alexandrov, V.A., Vysochina, G.I. et al. The inhibiting activity of meadowsweet extract on neurocarcinogenesis induced transplacentally in rats by ethylnitrosourea. J Neurooncol 131, 459–467 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-016-2323-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-016-2323-6

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