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Vernonia scorpioides has been widely used in Brazil to treat skin problems and chronic wounds, such as ulcers of the lower limbs and diabetic lesions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of V. scorpioides leaf extract on Ehrlich ascitic and solid tumor-bearing mice. The animals were treated once a day with the DCM fraction at a concentration of 5 mg/kg, administered ip during and after the development of the tumor. The lifespan, weight, number and type of leukocytes, number of tumor cells, volume of solid and ascitic tumors were measured. The development of the tumor with pre-treated tumor cells in vitro with the DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) was analyzed and the animals were sacrificed after 7 days. The DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) totally inhibited tumor development when in direct contact with tumor cells, and also ascitic tumor development with in vitro treatment or when administered ip, in loco (after 7 days). Animals treated with the DCM fraction increased their lifespan ca. 2 weeks and maintained their body weight for 30 days. When applied immediately after the inoculation of the tumor cells in vivo, it totally abolished tumor development, with tumor development only decreasing when treatment was started 3 days after the tumor challenge. These data suggest an antineoplastic activity of the fraction. Oral or ip administration of DCM fraction (5 mg/kg) for 7 days did not reduce the solid tumor volume. The cytotoxic activity described here differs from the conventional immune suppressing profile of standard chemotherapy because it increases neutrophil influx to the peritoneal cavity. These results show that, besides exhibiting a tumoricidal activity, the DCM fraction also exhibits inflammatory activity.

RESUMO: "Ação citotóxica da sub-fração 2125 de Vernonia scorpioides contra células do Sarcoma 180 em camundongos". O efeito da sub-fração SF-2125 obtida do extrato das folhas de Vernonia scorpioides foi investigado em camundongos portadores do tumor ascítico Sarcoma 180 (S180). Os animais foram tratados com SF-2125 na concentração de 5 mg/kg, administrada por vias intraperitoneal e intravenosa durante o desenvolvimento do tumor. O tratamento com SF-2125 5 mg/kg i.p. aumentou o tempo de vida dos animais, manteve seu peso corporal e o tumor na forma ascítica não teve desenvolvimento. O tratamento intravenoso não reduziu o volume do tumor. Unitermos: Sarcoma 180, sub-fração 2125, Vernonia scorpioides.ABSTRACT: The effect of the selected sub-fraction SF-2125 of the Vernonia scorpioides leaf extract on Sarcoma 180 (S180) ascitic tumor-bearing mice was investigated. The animals were treated with SF-2125 at a concentration of 5 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally and intravenous during the development of the tumor. Treatment with SF-2125 5 mg/kg i.p. increased the lifespan of the animals, maintained their body and the ascitic tumor showed no development. Intravenous treatment did not reduce the tumor volume.

Abstract:We investigated the healing process on excisional wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rats, treated with 50 μL of ethyl acetate III from Vernonia scorpioides (Lam.) Pers., Asteraceae, rifamycin diethylamide B 25 mg, or saline. The lesions were measured daily and after seven days were surgically removed and histologically processed. The results indicate a favorable action of the EAIII, demonstrated by the increased wound contraction, smaller area of necrotic tissue, good development of granulation tissue, extensive extracellular matrix deposition and epithelial regeneration. This sub-fraction was phytochemically investigated in parallel studies, revealing the presence of sesquiterpene lactones (glaucolides and hirsutinolides) such as diacethylpiptocarphol and related hirsutinolides, flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives and also a new polyacetylene, which have been previously published. Results support the effectiveness of V. scorpioides antimicrobial activity in infected wound healing in rats.