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Assay of Fractions of Bracken Fern (Pteris aquilina) for Carcinogenic Activity¹

Department of Pathological Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey [A. M. P.]; Scientific Divisions, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064 [J. M. P.]; and The Division of Clinical Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 [G. T. B.]

Fresh bracken fern (Pteris aquilina) was extracted with cold and hot methanol followed by ethyl ether. Six fractions designated as G, E, F, K, H, and M were obtained. The residue obtained after removal of the solvent was mixed with 4 times its weight of cholesterol, and the mixture was converted to pellets with the aid of a pellet press. Pellets containing these residues were surgically implanted into the bladder lumens of Swiss albino female mice, and a control group of mice received only pure cholesterol pellets. A 53% and 56% incidence, respectively, of bladder carcinomas was observed in the mice of Groups G and H. This incidence was statistically greater than that seen in the control group. A lower incidence of urinary bladder carcinomas was obtained in the mice of the other groups. These results suggest that one or more carcinogenic substances occur in bracken fern itself.

¹ Supported in part by Grants CA-08254 and CA-10017 from the National Cancer Institute and by a grant from the Turkish Scientific and Technical Council.

² Career Development Awardee of the National Cancer Institute (1-K4-CA-8245-01A1).

Received 6/11/69. Accepted 9/10/69.