Antitumour effects of the essential oil from Mentha x villosa combined with 5‐fluorouracil in mice

Abstract

In the previous study, we demonstrated that the essential oil from the leaves of Mentha x villosa (EOMV) shows antitumour activities. In the present paper, the effects of the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with the EOMV were determined in mice transplanted with Sarcoma 180 tumour cells. Hematological and biochemical analyses, as well as morphological analyses of the tumour and the organs (liver, spleen and kidney) were performed in order to evaluate the toxicological aspects. The combination of the EOMV (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) with 5-FU (10 mg/kg/day) led to a higher tumour growth inhibition rate (58.9% and 65.7%, respectively) when compared with 5-FU alone at 10 mg/kg/day (30.2%). The combined use of 5-FU (10 mg/ kg/day) with the EOMV (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) showed similar tumour growth inhibition rate to that of 5-FU alone at the highest dose (25 mg/kg/day) with less severe leukopenia. However, neither the enzymatic activity of transaminases nor the urea and creatinine levels were modified when compared with the 5-FU groups. These findings indicate that the EOMV may enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs.

A Comparative Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of Mentha crispa Essential Oil, Its Major Constituent Rotundifolone, and Analogues on Human Glioblastoma

“…This species is popularly known as “hortelã-da-folha-miúda” or Cuban mint, being extensively cultivated in northeastern Brazil [ 12 ]. M. crispa essential oil (MCEO) possesses several biological properties, including antinociceptive [ 13 ], spasmolytic [ 14 ], antimicrobial [ 15 ], larvicidal [ 12 ], trypanocidal [ 16 ], cytotoxic, and antitumoral [ 17 , 18 ]. Rotundifolone (ROT), a p -menthane-type monoterpene, is the major chemical constituent (around 70%) from MCEO [ 19 ].…”

Cytotoxic, Antitumor and Toxicological Profile of Passiflora alata Leaf Extract

“…This property presented by Pa LE can be considered beneficial because it counteracts the adverse effect that occurs with many available antineoplastic agents (spleen retraction), reflecting on the immunosuppressive action of these drugs, which is a limiting factor in cancer therapy. 5-FU is within this class of drugs, leading to a reduction in spleen mass as shown in Table 3 [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…The S180 tumor, in its solid form and as it grows in the axillary region, damages one or more tissues, such as skeletal muscle; a factor that causes changes in biochemical parameters such as AST [ 38 ]. For this reason, care should be taken with isolated elevation of the AST, as it does not correspond, in most cases, to liver damage.…”

“…Antineoplastic drugs commonly cause immunosuppression as an adverse effect and consequently substantially increase the risk of infection in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy [ 38 ]. The results obtained with our Pa LE may mean an advantage over some antineoplastic drugs because it does not promote a potential immunosuppressive activity and consequently minimizes the possibility of infectious events.…”

Evaluation of cytotoxic and antitumor activity of perillaldehyde 1,2-epoxide

“…There was no significant change (p > 0.05) in organ weights (liver, spleen and kidney), liver (AST and ALT) and renal (urea and creatinine) parameters in the groups treated with perillaldehyde 1,2-epoxide at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day when compared with NC group (Table 2). These data are significant since many anticancer drugs cause changes in renal function, liver function and spleen organ volume as a result of the lack of specificity of antineoplastic, inducing severe adverse effects (Bezerra et al, 2008;Amaral et al, 2016).…”