Euphorbia tirucalli L. modulates myelopoiesis and enhances the resistance of tumour-bearing mice.

Full Abstract

Myelosuppression concomitant with increased numbers of spleen CFU-GM was observed in tumour-bearing mice. Treatment of these animals with Euphorbia tirucalli L. (ET) (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) stimulated marrow myelopoiesis and reduced spleen colony formation, with no differences observed between the effects of the three doses. The changes produced by the tumour in total and differential marrow cell counts were restored by the treatment with ET. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, which were dramatically increased in tumour bearers, was also abrogated by the treatment with the plant extract. Euphorbia tirucalli L. significantly enhanced survival and concurrently reduced tumour growth in the peritoneal cavity. We propose that the modulatory effect of Euphorbia tirucalli L. on myelopoietic response and on the levels of PGE2 may be related to its antitumour activity as a possible mechanism for the regulation of granulocyte and macrophage production and expression of functional activities.

Author information

Author/s: Valadares, Marize C (MC); Carrucha, Silvia Granja (SG); Accorsi, Walter (W); Queiroz, Mary L S (ML);

Affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia/Hemocentro, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, FCM, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Feb; vol 6 (issue 2) : pp 294-9

Dates: Created 2006/01/09; Completed 2006/04/17; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16399635, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.