Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this experiment was to study acute toxicity and local stimulation of cucurbitacinBE poly_lactic acid nano_particles (CuBE_PLA_NP) for targeting cervical lymph node. Methods: Various doses of CuBE_PLA_NP lyophilization injection and cucurbitacinBE (CuBE) were hypodermically or veno_injected into the mice, and then the drug toxicity and side effects were observed; 50% lethal dose (LD\-\{50\}) was counted. CuBE_PLA_NP lyophilization injection and CuBE were also injected into the quadriceps femoralis muscle of rabbits to observe the local stimulate responses of drugs.Results: The fifty percent lethal doses of subcutaneous and venous CuBE_PLA_NP in mice were 16 74 mg/kg±1 83 mg/kg and 5 60 mg/kg±0 83 mg/kg respectively, that were higher than those of CuBE which were 8 63 mg/kg±1 00 mg/kg and 2 50 mg/kg±0 30 mg/kg respectively. Local stimulate response in rabbit quadriceps femoralis muscle after CuBE_PLA_NP and CuBE injected are 0 grade and 0 1 grade respectively. Conclusion: The acute toxicity of CuBE_PLA_NP is lower than that of CuBE. Both CuBE_PLA_NP and CuBE are adequate for local injection, but the local stimulation of CuBE_PLA_NP is smaller than that of CuBE.

Key words: cucurbitacinBE, polylactic acid, nano_particl, oral carcinoma, cervicallymphnodemetastasis, targeted chemotherapy, side effects