2.12. Tumor xenograft experiment
Kunming mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) in the right
flank with HepG2 cells (1 × 106 cells/mL). Following one week
of tumor growth to a diameter of 2–3 mm and a tumorigenesis
of 100%, the mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6)
for xenograft experiment. Each group was exposed to intraperitoneal
(ip) injection treatments: (I) Saline control, 0.9%; (II) 5-FU,
2.0 mg/kg/d; (III) Cytoxan, 3.6 mg/kg/d; (IV) Segetoside I (Higher
concentration), 5 mg/kg/d; (V) Segetoside I (Median concentration),
2.5 mg/kg/d; and (VI) Segetoside I (Lower concentration),
1.25 mg/kg/d. The mice were weighed and their tumor volumes
estimated using Vernier callipers at 2-day intervals. After 4 weeks
of injections,the mice were sacrificed and the tumors removed. The
tumor volume (V) was evaluated based on length (a) and the width
(b) measurements using the following formula: V = (a × b2)/2