ANTIMETASTATIC ACTIVITY OF <i>ACONITUM SOONGARICUM </i>(RANUNCULACEAE) UNDERGROUND PARTS IN MODELS OF TRANSPLANTED TUMORS
Antimetastatic activity of standardised tincture from underground parts of <i>Aconitum soongaricum</i> Stapf was studied in 174 C57Bl X CBA female mice with transplanted epidermoid Lewis lung carcinoma and melanoma В16. The tumors were transplanted intramuscularly at number of 1 X 10 <sup>6</sup> cancer cells. <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture was given perorally at a maximal tolerable dose (MTD) of 16.3 ml/kg of body weight in dilution by water 1:10 daily within 5 days beginning through 48 hours or 7 days after the tumor transplantation. As a drug of comparison, cytostatic cyclophosphamide was administered to mice intramuscularly at a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight twice on the 7th and 11th days after the tumor transplantation. In groups with the combined influence <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture plus cyclophosphamide at the above-named doses and schemes were administered to mice. <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture rendered antimetastatic action on lung metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma as well as of melanoma В16. The index of metastasis inhibition (IMI) of Lewis lung carcinoma at treatment by <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture with the treatment beginning through 48 hours or 7 days after the tumor transplantation was 42.1 and 31.8 %, accordingly. IMI of melanoma В16 at the similar treatment by <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture was 46.9 and 44.1 %, accordingly. IMI of the both transplanted tumors at treatment by cyclophosphamide was higher on 23.5-33.8 %. In groups with the combined administration of <i>A. soongaricum</i> tincture and cyclophosphamide additive antimetastatic effects on metastasizing Lewis lung carcinoma as well as melanoma В16 were achieved. IMI of the tumors at simultaneous administration of the drugs was higher on 7.3-15 % in comparison with the administration of cyclophosphamide alone. Thus, <i>A. soongaricum </i>tincture has moderate antimetastatic influence on lung metastasizing Lewis lung carcinoma and melanoma В16 and also increased antimetastatic influence of cyclophosphamide at type of additive effect.