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ABSTRACT Introduction: Increasing cruciferous vegetable intake has been associated with reduced risk of cancer. Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that the watercress it is a cruciferous vegetable with high concentration of compounds with recognized antitumor activity. Objective: To investigate the effects of daily intake of an aqueous solution of watercress on the growth of the experimental Ehrlich tumor (EET). Methods: Swiss mice were divided into three groups A, B and C (n = 6). The animals from the control group (A) received, by gavage, 0.05 ml of saline throughout the experiment. The animals in group B, from the first day of the experiment, received daily, by gavage, 0.05 ml of watercress aqueous solution (0.5 g/ml). The animals from group C began, on day 21, daily intake of this solution. At day 21.2 × 106 EET cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the left footpad of all mice, and tumor growth was assessed by measuring the thickness of the paw. On day 42, the animals were sacrificed and their footpads removed for histopathological analysis. Results: The animals from groups B and C have showed a suppression of tumor growth and a small area of necrosis compared to the animals of group A. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the daily intake of aqueous solution of watercress was able to activate a suppression of the EET growth, probably due to the main compounds with antitumor properties present in this vegetable.
RESUMO Introdução: O aumento da ingestão de vegetais crucíferos tem sido associado à redução de risco de câncer. Estudos experimentais e epidemiológicos sugerem que o agrião é um vegetal crucífero que apresenta alta concentração de compostos com reconhecida atividade antitumoral. Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do consumo diário de solução aquosa de agrião no crescimento do tumor experimental de Ehrlich (TEE). Métodos: Camundongos Swiss foram separados em três grupos, A, B e C (n = 6). Os animais do grupo-controle (A) receberam, por gavagem, 0,05 ml de solução salina durante todo o experimento. Os animais do grupo B, a partir do 1º dia do experimento, receberam diariamente, por gavagem, 0,05 ml de solução aquosa de agrião (0,5 g/ml). Os animais do grupo C, no 21º dia, iniciaram a ingestão diária dessa solução. No 21º dia, todos os camundongos foram inoculados subcutaneamente no coxim plantar esquerdo com 2 × 106 células do TEE (0,05 ml), e o desenvolvimento tumoral foi avaliado pela mensuração da espessura das patas. No 42º dia, os animais foram sacrificados e suas patas, removidas para análise histopatológica. Resultados: Os animais dos grupos B e C apresentaram supressão do crescimento tumoral e menor área de necrose em relação aos animais do grupo A. Conclusão: O presente estudo demonstrou que a ingestão diária de solução aquosa de agrião foi capaz de causar supressão do crescimento do TEE provavelmente devido aos principais compostos presentes neste vegetal com propriedades antitumorais.
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Cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Analysis of epidemiological data has revealed a negative relationship between allergic conditions and cancer incidence. This study addresses the effects of chronic antigen ingestion by sensitized mice (allergy) on Ehrlich tumor growth in mouse footpad. Mice were sensitized (allergic) or not (sham) with ovalbumin and challenged orally with egg white solution. After one week of oral challenge, all mice were inoculated with experimental Ehrlich tumor (EET) cells in the footpad, and tumor growth was evaluated for 21 days. A decrease in tumor growth occurred, as assessed by paw thickness in the allergic group, which was associated with smaller areas of necrosis, reduced infiltration of neutrophils, and reduced levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10. Although, the tumor proliferation rate was similar in both groups, an increase in apoptosis occurred in allergic mice. In conclusion, analysis of the data obtained allows us to suggest that a concomitant allergic condition would reduce tumor progression through increased tumor cell apoptosis, accompanied by reduced areas of necrosis at the tumor site. Indeed, such findings suggested a possible mechanism for the reduced cancer incidence observed in allergic individuals.