Abstract
Chronic use of anthraquinone laxatives has been blamed for the induction of habituation and the development of colonic cancer, but there are no definitive studies which have demonstrated this. To evaluate the carcinogenic potential of anthraquinones, the effect of long-term senna pod extract (SE) treatment on either healthy rats or rats treated with an initiating tumor agent (azoxymethane--AOM) has been studied. SE (30 and 60mg/kg), administered for 110 weeks, did not induce the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors in healthy rats. The development of ACF and tumors in rats treated with AOM were significantly reduced by SE (30 and 60 mg/kg). These results suggest that a chronic SE use does not predispose to colon cancer. By contrast, SE might exert an anti-tumoral activity on rat colon carcinogenesis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 501-5; discussion 505 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Phytomedicine |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 6-7 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2005 |
Keywords
- Adenocarcinoma
- Animals
- Anticarcinogenic Agents
- Azoxymethane
- Cathartics
- Colonic Neoplasms
- Male
- Phytotherapy
- Precancerous Conditions
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Senna Extract
- Senna Plant
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
