In vivo antitumor activityof Larrea divaricata cav. Comparison of two routes of administration

C ANESINI; AM GENARO; GA CREMASCHI; J BOCCIO; M ZUBILLAGA; L STERIN BORDA; E BORDA

PHYTOMEDICINE

ELSEVIER

Lugar: USA; Año: 1998 vol. 5 p. 57 - 61

0944-7113

We have previously demosntrated that Larrea Divaricarata extracts have antiproliferative activity on T lymphoma BW5147 cells in culture. Moreover theextract has in vivo anti tumor activity when it was administered to a pregnanat rat which had a spontaneous mammary tumor. In this work its effect on a chemically induced tumor was studied in female rats. The extract was administered at a does of 250 mg/kg three times a week by two different routes: subcutaneously (sc) or intratumoral (it). The anti.tumor activity was evaluated by the survival time, the percentage of tumors that have decreased, remain static or have increased. From tumors treated it 7 decreased (58%), 4 remain static ( 33%) and  1  increased ( 8 %); whereas tumors treated via sc with the extract 10 decreased (12 %), 59 remain static (75%) and 9 increased (11%). The total number of controltumors was 80 and none of them showed regresion, 12 remain static (15%) and 68 increased (85%). The survival time of treated animals using both routes was significantly higher than control group. We conclude that the aqueous extract of this plant has in vivo antitumor activity with the intratumoral route being most effective in the induction of tumor regression.