Preventive effects of bovine gallstone on murine colon neoplasia: room for improvement?

Bovine gallstone (BGS) has been suggested to be used in the treatment of many diseases including neoplastic maladies in traditional medicine. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the possible protective effects of BGS in mice colon tumor model. In the experiment, 8 week-old 30 male BALB/c mice weighing 25-30 g were randomly allocated into control group (n=6), tumor group ((n=6; tumor induced by 1,2- dimethylhydrazine? [DMH]), BGS>DMH group (n=6; BGS given prior to DMH challenge), BGS//DMH group (n=6; simultaneous administration of BGS and DMH) and DMH>BGS group (n=6; tumor induced by DMH then BGS given). Colonic tumor was induced by weekly subcutaneous injection of DMH at a 20 mg/kg/mouse dose for consequetive 11 weeks. BGS preparations were given to mice cyclically. Atypical cryptic foci formation in the colon was examined by histopathological staining. The lowest rate of colon tumor was noted in BGS>DMH group where BGS was given prior to tumor challenge. In addition simultaneous administration of DMH and BGS to mice inhibited tumor formation and development more significantly than those in other groups (except for BGS>DMH group). It was concluded that BGS significantly prevented colonic tumor formation if given to subjects before or during tumor challenge however, therapeutic capacity of BGS was not promising in this study.