INVESTIGATION OF CANNABIS EXTRACT AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF INDUCE CANCER CELLS IN ALBINO MICE

Abstract

Cancer is the second highest cause of mortality in the world, characterized by the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells resulting in death. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabinoids inhibit angiogenesis and decrease metastasis in various tumors. The research work was conducted to evaluate the effects of cannabis extract on albino mice and the response of cannabis extract for the treatment and prevention of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells induced cancer on albino mice. A total of 444 albino mice were collected from the animal house, at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi. For the observation of the effects of cannabis extract on albino mice, 48 mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups i.e. T0 (control), T1 (5mg/Kg), T2 (10mg/Kg) and T3 (15mg/Kg). Every week 4 mice were sacrificed from all groups, blood was collected for biochemical and hematological analysis, and organs were collected for histopathological observation. Significantly (P<0.05) highest body weight was found in T3. No significant (P>0.05) effects of cannabis extract on hematological and biochemical parameters except in early-stage SGPT, SGOT, and alkaline phosphatase which were increased but with time it became normal and histopathology of different organs revealed no changes. For the treatment purpose of EAC-induced cancer, 204 mice were randomly divided into seven groups i.e group-1 (control, n=12) group-2 (EAC induced only, n=12), group-3 (Commercial Chemotherapeutic drug, n=36), group-4 (cannabis extract started injection 3 days after EAC induced, n=36), group-5 (cannabis extract started injection 7 days after EAC induced, n=36), group-6 (cannabis extract started injection 14 days after EAC induced, n=36) and group-7 (cannabis extract started injection 21 days after EAC induced, n=36). Mice of group-3, group-4, group-5 group-6 and group-7 were divided into four subgroups i.e T0 (control), T1 (5mg/Kg), T2 (10mg/Kg) and T3 (15mg/Kg) consisting of 12 mice in each. The results revealed that no tumor and ascitic fluid formation and no significant (P>0.05) effects on biochemical and hematological parameters in the early period of treatment (groups 4 and 5) whereas tumor and acetic fluid formation and had significant (P>0.05) effects on some biochemical and hematological parameters group at in the longer period of treatment (group 6 and 7), cytopathological study of ascitic fluids also revealed atypical cells under light microscope, histopathological study of tumor revealed sarcoma type cancer. For the prevention purpose of EAC-induced cancer, a total of 192 mice were randomly divided into four groups i.e group-1 (EAC induced after 3 doses of cannabis extract, n=48), group-2 (EAC induced after 7 doses of cannabis extract, n=48), group-3 (EAC induced after 14 doses of cannabis extract, n=48) and group-4 (EAC induced after 21 doses of cannabis extract, n=18). Mice of group-1, group-2, group-3 and group-4 were divided into four subgroups i.e T0 (control), T1 (5mg/Kg), T2 (10mg/Kg) and T3 (15mg/Kg) consisting of 12 mice in each. The effects of EAC cells induced cancer and preventive effects of cannabis extract on biochemical and hematological profiles were observed. In the biochemical profile, EAC significantly (P<0.05) increased SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphate and uric acid with an increased period of observation. EAC significantly (P<0.05) increased WBC and neutrophil but significantly (P<0.05) decreased lymphocyte. After 3rd and 7th doses of extract injection did not show cancer preventive effect. After the 14th dose, 7.14% tumor and fluid formation, no significant effect (p<0.05) on biochemical and hematological parameters except SGPT, SGOT and alkaline phosphatase. EAC induced after 21st doses of cannabis extract injection, no tumor and acetic fluid formation, no significant effect on biochemical and hematological parameters like as normal mice.