ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY IN VIVO OF AQUEOUS AND ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF THYMUS MARSCHALLIANUS WILLD

The aim of research is to study the antitumor activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Thymus marschallianus Willd. on male outbreed white rats with transplanted liver tumor PC-1. Materials and methods. The object of study is crushed grass of Thymus marschallianus Willd. collected in the Saratov vicinity in the flowering phase. Extracts from the specified plant material were made in two different ways: first way, water was used as an extractant, in the other, ethyl alcohol 95%. 15 male outbreed white laboratory rats weighing 200±50 were used in experiment. The subcutaneous injections of alveolar liver cancer RS-1 were made in scapula area. Animals with transplanted tumor were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 rats: the first was a control (negative control) that did not receive extract; the second was an experimental one that receiving alcoholic extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd.; the third was an experimental one that receiving aqueous extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. To study the pathomorphosis of the tumor, morphological and morphometric methods were used standard histological staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Results It has been established that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Thymus marschallianus Willd. have antitumor activity. Morphological examination of animal tumors showed a decrease in the number of preserved tumor cells in the view field, pronounced necrobiotic and atrophic changes in tumor cells, absence of mitosis, proliferation of connective tissue fibers corresponding to the II-III degree of tumor pathomorphosis. Conclusion. Thymus marschallianus Willd. aqueous extract showed more potent antitumor activity. Introduction into tumor tissue revealed morphological signs of apoptosis: the appearance of apoptotic bodies, karyopycnosis, and condensation of nuclear chromatin in tumor cells. It can be assumed that the more pronounced antitumor effect of the aqueous extract is due to the higher yield of flavonoids.