Reduced levels of glutathione in liver and tumour tissue of the mouse after administration of eupatoriopicrin

In this study the effect of the cytostatic acting sesquiterpene lactone eupatoriopicrin, isolated from Eupatorium cannabinum L., on gluthathione (GSH) levels in liver and tumour tissue of the mouse is described. C57Bl mice, bearing a solidly growing Lewis Lung carcinoma or a FIO 26 fibrosarcoma, with a volume between 500–1000 μL, were injected with eupatoriopicrin 20 or 40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intravenously (i.v.). At different time points, between 0–48 h after administration, the GSH content in liver and tumour tissue was determined. A dose dependent reduction of the GSH content was found. No difference in reduction was seen between i.p. and i.v. administration, but the route of administration appeared to be of great importance regarding acute toxicity: 40 mg/kg i.p. was lethal within 48 h, whereas mice receiving the same dose i.v. survived for over three months.