Evaluation of pro-apoptotic activity of Chelidonium majus L. and/or gamma-radiation against ehrlich as carcinoma transplanted in mice

This study was to evaluate, the pro-apoptotic activity of ethanolic Chelidonium majus L. (CM) leaf extract and/or gamma-radiation in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) bearing mice by measuring tumor volume, apoptotic factors (caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), angiogenesis factors (matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9); tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), DNA fragmentation, besides histopathological examination. After tumor inoculation, mice received CM (100 mg/body weight/day) on the 10th day and were exposed to whole body γ-radiation (6Gy) on the 17th day. The data obtained reveales that combining CM with γ-radiation exposure induce significant regression in tumor growth, up-regulate Bax, caspase-3, TIMP-1 and inhibit Bcl-2, TNF-α, MMP-(2 and 9). Cytotoxicity is substantiated by increased DNA-fragmentation (comet assay and DNA content) and histological examination. It could be suggested that combining CM with gamma-radiation increased apoptosis of tumor cells which would help to increase the lifespan of mice.