Chemopreventive Effects of Chelidonium majus L.(Papaveraceae) Herb Extract on Rat Gastric Carcinogenesis Induced by Ν-methyl-Ν-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and Hyoertonic Sodium Chloride

The modifying effects of Chelidonium majus L/(Papaeracea)herb extract(CH) ,and analgesic traditionally prescribed for gastric and duodenal ulcer patients, on gastric tumor development given Ν-methyl-Ν'-nitro-Ν-nitrosogyanidine(MNNG) were studied in sixty-four 6 week-old male Wistar rats. Group 1 rats were ini-tially given MNNG(200mg/kg b/w.) by gavage ar days 0 and 14 as well as saturated sodium chloride solution(S-NaCI, 1ml per rat) every 3 days during weeks 0 to 3(6 times) and then placed on basal diet containing 0.1 or 0.2% CH ofr 16 weeks from week 4. Rats of Groups 2 and 3 were treated with MNNG together with S-NaCI or saline(0.9% NaCI, 21ml per rat) respectively, timed as in Group 1 but without further treatment. All survival animals were killed at week 20 and histopathologically investigate. in the glandular stomach, the number of preneoplastic pepsinogen 1 altered pyloric glands(PAPGs) in the MNNG+S-NaCI→CH(0.1%) group(Group 1) was significantly smaller than in the MNNG+S-NaCI group(Group 2)(p<0.02). The inci-dences of forestomach neoplastic lesions (Papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas)also showed a tendency for decrease with the CH treatment. The results thus indicate that C"H exerts inhibitory effects on glandular for decrease with the CH treatment. The results thus indicate that CH exerts inhibitory effects on glandular stomach carcinogenesis in the rat, so that it may have potential as a chemopreventive agent for stomach cancer in man.