Cytotoxic and antitumour activity from Bursera fagaroides ethanol extract in mice with L5178Y lymphoma

Chloroform extracts of Bursera fagaroides (Burseracea) have previously show n antitumour activity against the Walker carcinoma 256 tumour system (WA16) , In the present work we have determined the cytotoxic and antitumour activ ity of the ethanol extract (70%) elf the bark of B. fagaroides using the L5 178Y lymphoma. The cytotoxic activity is expressed as the ED50 Of the L5178 Y lymphoma cells in culture, (20 mu g/mL) whilst the antitumour activity wa s shown via a tumour growing inhibition test, measuring survival of BALB/c mice (2 x 10(4) cells L5178Y i.p.). 24 h after inoculation mice were treate d with 50 or 100 mg/kg of extract daily, over 15 days in independent groups of 10, using two administration routes. We observed the tumour evolution w ith and without treatment, Oral administration resulted in 8% of mice being tumour free after 60 day whilst intraperitoneal administration showed 26% survived at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 15 days. A significant increase in the survival of the treated animals (at 50 mg/kg/day over 15 days) was foun d compared with those treated with placebo or without treatment. (C) 1998 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.