The effect of bovine cartilage on survival of B16F10 melanoma and on mouse mononuclear cells in vivo and in vitro -

Abstract

Background and Aims: Promising results were obtained when bovine cartilage was used to treat several malignancies. However, only a few in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to assess its mechanism of action. Additionally, no research was done to study its effect on healthy non-cancerous cells. The aim of this study was to investigate some of the proposed mechanisms of action of bovine cartilage on mouse melanoma and mouse mononuclear cells both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: One hundred and ten C57BL-6 female mice were divided into 5 groups and received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of B16F10 melanoma cells followed by treatment with Bovine Cartilage using different routes of administration ( IP, oral, and IP and oral). Following a treatment period of 16 days, serum levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) were determined by ELISA at 2, 4, and 6 hours after the last treatment dose was given. Additionally, 10 mice from each group were monitored for survival for 20 days post-treatment. Moreover, B16F10 melanoma cells and mouse mononuclear cells were incubated separately with increasing bovine cartilage concentrations for 24 and 48 hours respectively. Per cent viability was determined using the trypan blue exclusion method. Results: A significant decrease in the serum levels of VEGF was observed in the groups treated with bovine cartilage. Moreover 20percent survival rate was noted in the group treated with bovine cartilage using both oral and IP administration routes simultaneously, whereas 10percent survival was noted in the groups given cartilage either by the IP or oral route. In vitro, total eradication of melanoma cells was observed 24 and 48 hours post-treatment with 5000μg-ml and 1000μg-ml of bovine cartilage respectively. Bovine cartilage was not toxic to mouse mononuclear cells. Conclusion: It appears that bovine cartilage possesses anti-tumor activity. This activity seems to give better results when both routes of administration are utilized. Moreover, the anti-proliferative effec