| Abstrakt: |
To analyze the expression of biomarkers of cell proliferation and apoptosis in a murine model of sarcoma 180 (S180) treated with ethanolic extract of Himatanthus bracteatus (EEHB). S180 cells were transplanted to 30 mice treated with saline solution, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and EEHB (30 mg/kg) for 7 days. After euthanasia, tumor growth inhibition (TGI) and morphologic features of the tumors were assessed. Histochemical detection of in situ DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 were also analyzed. No significant difference was observed between the TGI in 5-FU (71.8 ± 8.1%) and EEHB (58.1 ± 6.0%; P >.05). Ki-67 expression was higher in saline (39.8 ± 2.3%) than in 5-FU (23.9 ± 1.0%; P <.005) and EEHB (24.2 ± 0.5%; P <.05), whereas TUNEL, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 expressions were significantly lower in saline (6.1 ± 0.6, 1.3 ± 0.09, 4.8 ± 0.5, respectively) than in 5-FU (18.0 ± 1.5, 2.5 ± 0.06, 16.8 ± 0.8, respectively; P <.001) and EEHB (16.9 ± 1.3, 1.7 ± 0.06, 16.3 ± 0.4, respectively; P <.05). The data suggest the involvement of the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in the antitumor activity promoted by EEHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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