F. Borrelli et al., Effect of bisacodyl and cascara on growth of aberrant crypt foci and malignant tumors in the rat colon, LIFE SCI, 69(16), 2001, pp. 1871-1877
Laxatives abuse has been associated with an increased risk for colon cancer
. However, little is known about laxatives long-tern carcinogenic potential
in experimental studies. The present study was designed to investigate the
effects of bisacodyl (4.3 and 43 mg/kg) and cascara (140 and 420 mg/kg) on
azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors. Animals,
divided in 10 groups were treated with AOM and laxatives (alone or in combi
nation) for 13 weeks. At the end of treatment animals were killed and the c
olon removed and analysed for the determination of ACF and tumors. Bisacody
l (4.3 and 43 mg/kg), given alone, did not induce the development of coloni
c ACF and tumors. Bisacodyl (4.3 mg/kg) coupled with AOM increased the numb
er of crypt per focus, but not the number of tumors. Bisacodyl (43 mg/kg) s
ignificantly increased the number of crypt per focus and tumors. Cascara (1
40 and 420 mg/kg) did not induce the development of colonic ACF and tumors
and did not modify the number of AOM-induced ACF and tumors. The results of
the present study indicate a possible promoting effect of bisacodyl on rat
colon carcinogenesis (especially at higher doses) and absence of any promo
ting or initiating activity of a laxative and diarrhoeal dose of cascara. (
C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.