Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) extract specifically suppresses the growth of tumors in H22-bearing Kunming mice
-
Zhenxiang He
and
Jie Fu
Abstract
Recently, neem tree (Azadirachta indica) extract (NTE) has been reported to have various antitumor activities against gastric, breast, prostate, and skin cancer, respectively. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of NTE on hepatic cancer in a mouse model. The possible side effects elicited by NTE were also evaluated. The components in NTE were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). H22 cells-bearing Kumming mice were generated by injecting H22 cells subcutaneously into the right forelimb armpit of the mice. Then the mice were treated daily for 27 days with NTE (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg body weight) by intragastric administration, using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, 1%) as blank control and cyclophosphamide (CTX, 20 mg/kg) as positive control. The antitumor effect of NTE was evaluated by assessment of survival rate, body weight, tumor volume and weight, tumor histology, thymus and spleen indexes, and liver histology. The tumor weight and volume in groups of NTE and CTX were significantly lower than those in the CMC group. The survival rate in the NTE group receiving the high dose (600 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that in the CTX and CMC groups. Compared with CTX, NTE was observed to have a tumor-specific cytotoxicity without impairing the normal liver tissue. Additionally, the higher indexes of thymus and spleen indicated that NTE could facilitate the growth of immune organs. The results indicate that NTE is a promising candidate for the antitumor treatment with high efficacy and safety.
Acknowledgments
This project was supported by the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau program of “Research and development of the key technology on the azadirachtin hairy roots cell engineering” (SNG201448), the National High Technology Research and Development Program in China (2011AA02A110), and the Nanjing University Program of “Research on the azadirachtin biopesticide and bioenergy” (2011320001010380).
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Supplemental Material:
The online version of this article (DOI: 10.1515/znc-2014-4210) offers supplementary material, available to authorized users.
©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- In vitro neuroprotective potential of the monoterpenes α-pinene and 1,8-cineole against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells
- Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) extract specifically suppresses the growth of tumors in H22-bearing Kunming mice
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- In vitro neuroprotective potential of the monoterpenes α-pinene and 1,8-cineole against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells
- Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) extract specifically suppresses the growth of tumors in H22-bearing Kunming mice
- Orofacial antinociceptive effect of the ethanolic extract of Annona vepretorum Mart. (Annonaceae)
- Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their target genes from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
- Chemotherapeutic effect of Berberis integerrima hydroalcoholic extract on colon cancer development in the 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine rat model
- New flavonoid C–O–C dimers and other chemical constituents from Garcinia brevipedicellata stem heartwood
- GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase from Pogonatherum paniceum enhances salinity and drought tolerance of transgenic tobacco
- Hypoglycemic activity of Gleditsia caspica extract and its saponin-containing fraction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
- Antinociceptive activity of Tibouchina pereirae, an endemic plant from the Brazilian semiarid region
- Heteroplasmy and atrazine resistance in Chenopodium album and Senecio vulgaris
- Extremely high boron tolerance in Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. related to root boron exclusion and a well-regulated antioxidant system
