Antimitogenic effect of Larrea divaricata Cav.: participation in arachidonate metabolism

Aqueous extracts of the leaves of Larrea divaricata Cav. exert antimitogeni c effects on tumor cells (BW 5147 murine immature T-lymphoma) and normal, s timulated lymphocytes. The effective concentration was four times smaller i n the case of tumor cells than in the case of normal, stimulated lymphocyte s. Inhibitor studies of arachidonate pathway suggest that the proliferative effect of the extract is due to the activation of lipoxygenase metabolism, while the inhibitory action could be a direct effect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Inc. All rights reserved.