Anticancer potential of Viva-Natural, a dietary seaweed extract, on Lewis lung carcinoma in comparison with chemical immunomodulators and on cyclosporine-accelerated AKR leukemia

Oncology. 1989;46(5):343-8. doi: 10.1159/000226746.

Abstract

Viva-Natural, extracted from a dietary seaweed, containing a macrophage-activating polysaccharide, has been confirmed to be active against intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and spontaneous AKR T cell leukemia. The antitumor potential against LLC has been evaluated in comparison with standard synthetic immunomodulators such as pyran copolymer (MVE-2), isoprinosine, levamisole, and tilorone while manipulating the immune systems by immunosuppressive agents, cyclophosphamide (CY) and 2-chloroadenosine. The anti-LLC activity of Viva-Natural has been found to be superior to that of isoprinosine but inferior to that of MVE-2. LLC-enhancing effect of CY could be partially reserved by the subsequent administration of Viva-Natural or MVE-2 but not by isoprinosine. 2-Chloroadenosine, a specific macrophage inhibitor, abrogated the anti-LLC activity of Viva-Natural and isoprinosine but not the activity of MVE-2. Levamisole and tilorone showed no anti-LLC activity. Ethanol-precipitable fraction of water-soluble part of Viva-Natural (crude polysaccharide) demonstrated curative activity similar to that of MVE-2. Viva-Natural reversed the potentiation effect of ciclosporin on the development of leukemia in AKR mice at preleukemic stage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents*
  • Carcinoma / immunology
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Cyclosporins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Eukaryota
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Inosine Pranobex / pharmacology
  • Leukemia, Experimental / immunology
  • Leukemia, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / therapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cyclosporins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Inosine Pranobex