Summary
Cepharanthine, isolated fromStephania cepharantha, is one of the bisbenzylisoquinoline-type alka-loids. We have found that it inhibits tumor promotion after topical application in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. Epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activities inhibited by topical application of cepharanthine, with an 5 Μg/mouse) and mezerein (5 Μg/mouse) were found to be inhibited by topical application of cepharanthine, with a ED50 of 1.2 Μmol and 1.4 Μmol respectively. These inhibitory effects of cepharanthine are considered to be related to its antitumor activity in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. Cell-mediated immunosuppression by TPA was unaffected by topical application of cepharanthine. A diet containing 0.005% cepharanthine (about 0.5 mg mouse− day−) slightly suppressed the two-stage promotion of skin tumors by twice-weekly applications of 2.5 Μg TPA for 2 weeks (first stage) followed by twice-weekly applications of 2.5 Μg mezerein for 23 weeks (second stage) in ICR mice following initiation by 50 Μg 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Oral administration of cepharanthine inhibits the tumor promotion in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin.
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Abbreviations
- DMBA:
-
7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
- DTH:
-
delayed-type hypersensitivity
- ODC:
-
ornithine decarboxylase
- TPA:
-
12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate
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Yasukawa, K., Takido, M., Takeuchi, M. et al. Cepharanthine inhibits two-stage tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and mezerein on skin tumor formation in mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 117, 421–424 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01612761
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01612761