Chuquiraga spinosa Lessing: A Medicinal Plant for Gastric Cancer Induced By N-Methyl-N-Nitroso-Urea (NMU)

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequent diseases in human population: Many plants from Peruvian flora is used to treat cancer as alternative treatment. Chuquiraga spinosa Lessing (ChS) is a species with high potential therapeutic due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect as well as protective against prostate cancer. Objective: The main objective was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Chuquiraga spinosa extract on NMU (N-methyl-N nitrosourea)-induced gastric cancer in rats. Methods: Gastric carcinogenesis was induced in 30 male Holtzman rats by providing NMU 50 μg/Kg by oral administration for 16 weeks. Ethanolic extract of ChS aerial parts was administered at doses 50, 250 and 500 mg/Kg per oral. The protective effect was determined through weight controls, biochemical and hematological parameters; the antioxidant capacity by superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and anti-inflammatory capacity by the level of C-reactive protein (CRP). The tumors were monitored by using histological examinations. Results: Oral administration of Chuquiraga spinosa extract significantly decreased superoxide dismutase malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, C-reactive protein levels (p<0,01, p<0,01, p<0,01 and p<0,01 respectively compared with Inductor group). There was a significant increase in the weights of animals (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of Chuquiraga spinosa extract, we conclude that it has a protective effect on NMU induced gastric cancer in rats. Many medicinal plants are used by patients with cancer due to numerous positive effects on pain relief, vomiting, nauseas, depression, and anxiety. 8Bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids can have antioxidant capacity with potential benefits for health and could reduce cancer risk, it has been demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effect of these compounds inhibit arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandins, and leukotrienes.9 Polyphenols are chemoprotectives that act by blocking of initiation stage of carcinogenesis, free radicals and activation of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and inactivation of glutathione S transferase. 10Chuquiraga spinosa (ChS) Lessing (Family: Asteraceae) is called "huamanpinta" and is a species with therapeutic properties from Peruvian flora. The stem and leaves infusion of this plant is used for its antiinflammatory effects and urinary infections. Previous studies have reported that ChS presents anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. 11 The main objective in this research was to determine the protective effect of aerial parts of Chuquiraga spinosa on NMU induced gastric cancer in rats. 21 MATERIALS AND METHODS AnimalsA total of 30 rats Holtzman (150 ± 20 g) of male sex were obtained from the National Institute of Health (Lima, Peru). Rats were kept in plastic cages with access to pelletized food and water ad libitum and housed in animal room with controlled temperature (2...

Antioxidant Activity of the Germinated Seed of Four Varieties of Amaranthus Caudatus L. from Peru

“…The germination period of another Andean grain Chenopodium quinoa was three days. 18 This can be explained by the morphological characteristics of grain apparently the cover of Amaranthus caudatus L. seeds is thicker and takes longer soften the protective cover making possible the interaction of water with the nutritional starch. 19 Table 2 shows that the germinated seed of Centenario, Cristalino, Oscar Blanco and Taray varieties have higher content of total phenols and flavonoids compared to non-germinated seeds.…”

Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Effect of Piper aduncum L. against Sodium Fluoride (NaF)-Induced Toxicity in Albino Mice

“…The powder was soaked for 72 h in an appropriate volume of methanol to obtain 100 mg/mL solution. The solution was evaporated by using a rotavap in order to obtain a dried extract, then it was stored in a brown vial at 4 °C until further use [14].…”

Etnobotánica, farmacología, fitoquímica y usos medicinales de Huamanpinta en el Perú – Chuquiraga spinosa Less. (Asteraceae)

“…Se han identificado varios compuestos químicos a partir de extractos alcohólicos e hidroalcohólicos de las partes aéreas de C. spinosa (Tabla 3). Las principales clases de compuestos que se han descrito incluyen flavonoides, compuestos fenólicos, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, terpenos y esteroides (Arroyo-Acevedo et al 2017, Arroyo-Acevedo et al 2018, Herrera-Calderon et al 2017. Casado et al (2011) realizaron un estudio fitoquímico de tres extractos (metanólico, metanólico 50% y acuoso) de las partes aéreas de C. spinosa.…”

“…Estos cambios histopatológicos tuvieron correlación con la disminución significativa de NO, MDA y PSA en todos los grupos tratados con los extractos en comparación con el grupo inductor (p<0,01), estos resultados se relacionan con su capacidad antioxidante (Palomino-De-La-Gala et al 2019). En otro estudio, Arroyo-acevedo et al (2018) indujeron carcinogénesis gástrica con NMU en ratas Holtzman durante 16 semanas. Los resultados mostraron que el extracto etanólico de las partes aéreas de C. spinosa disminuyó significativamente los niveles de CRP, MDA, SOD y NO.…”

“…Se necesitan más estudios para identificar con mayor precisión las moléculas activas involucradas en el efecto protector descrito. (Arroyo-acevedo et al 2018).…”