1. Introduction

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the world; it is characterized with the aid of uncontrolled growth and unfold of odd cells. If the unfold isn't managed, it can bring about demise. Cancer is resulting from both external components (tobacco, chemical compounds, radiation and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions and mutations that arise from metabolism). Those casual factors may additionally act together in series to initiate or promote carcinogenesis [1]. Malignancy is a perplexing arrangement of illnesses. Every malignancy is exceptional in the manner it develops and

builds up, its odds of spreading, the manner in which it influences one's body and the side effects one may involvement. A few components, including area and how the destructive cells show up under the magnifying instrument, decide how disease is analysed. All malignant growths, be that as it may, can be categorized as one of four general classes, for example, carcinoma, leukaemia, sarcoma and lymphoma. Carcinoma is a type of cancer developed from epithelial cells. This is the single largest group of human cancers forming about 80% of all cancers. Tumours arising from connective tissue cells (mesenchymal tissue) such as fibroblasts or bone cells are called sarcomas. Cancers of blood forming cells are called leukaemia. Sometimes cancer produced from the lymphoid origin is localized in lymph glands called lymphomas [2]. Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the dominant weapons in the arsenal for the treatment of cancer. They kill not only the tumour cells but also normal cells [3]. An enormous number of tumours are ineffectively responsive or even non-reacting to remedial medications and radiotherapy. Expanding the dosages of cytotoxic medications and radiation neglect to improve the reaction to these treatments and a significant number of them show protection from slaughtering. A perfect methodology is distinguish anticancer specialists that trigger adequately the procedure of cell demise specially in tumour cells [4]. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments are made as they wipe out fast growing cancer cells, they can also damage fast growing normal cells. They can affect some healthy, fast growing cells causing side effects some of the most common include, Depression of the immune system, which can result in potentially fatal infections. Fatigue, the treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient, who might already be very tired from cancer-related fatigue. It may produce mild to severe anaemia. Inclination to drain effectively, prescriptions that murder quickly separating cells or platelets are probably going to lessen the quantity of platelets in the blood, which can result in wounds and dying. Amazingly low platelet checks might be incidentally helped through platelet transfusions. At times, chemotherapy medicines are delayed to permit platelet checks to recuperate. Gastrointestinal misery, nausea and regurgitating are basic symptoms of chemotherapeutic drugs that murder quick partitioning cells. This can likewise deliver loose bowels or blockage, malnutrition and lack of hydration. This can result in fast weight reduction. Male pattern baldness, a few prescriptions that slaughter quickly isolating cells cause sensational male pattern baldness; different drugs may make hair meager. These are transitory impacts: hair for the most part begins developing back half a month after the last treatment, now and again with an inclination to twist that might be known as a "chemo perm" [5].

to insects in its number of known species. The gastropods include many thousands of species of marine snails and sea slugs, as well as freshwater snails and fresh water

The marine environment is a rich wellspring of both organic and compound biodiversity which has been investigated in the revelation of one of a kind synthetic compounds, having potential for mechanical improvement as pharmaceuti-

The word gastropod is from the Greek, gastro importance stomach and poda significance foot, thus stomach-foot, a somewhat human name dependent on the way that to people it appears that snails and slugs slither on their tummies. In actuality, snails and slugs have all their viscera, including their stomach, in a mound on the inverse, dorsal side of the body. The shell has extensive noteworthiness in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is viewed as hallowed and is one of the eight propitious images. In these religious settings the shell is now and again changed by having the tip of the tower cut off, with the goal that it tends to be blown as a formal trumpet. A few shells that are utilized along these lines are brightened with metal and semiprecious stones. The gastropod shell is the piece of the body of a gastropod or snail, a sort of mollusk. The gastropod shell is an outside skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves for muscle connection, yet additionally for security from predators and from mechanical harm. In land snails the shell is a basic insurance against the sun, and against drying out. The gastropod shell has a few layers, and is commonly made of calcium carbonate accelerated out into a natural framework known as conchiolin. The shell is discharged by a piece of the molluscan body known as the mantle. Not all gastropods have a shell, however the greater part do. In pretty much every case the shell comprises of one piece, and is ordinarily spirally snaked, albeit a few gatherings, for example, the different various families and genera of limpets,

Xancus pyrum, common names the chank shell, sacred chank or chank, also known as the divine conch, sometimes referred to simply as a conch, is a species of very large sea snail with a gill and an operculum. It is a marine gastropod mollusk in

cals, makeup, wholesome enhancements, atomic tests, fine synthetics and agrochemicals. As of late of novel metabolites with powerful pharmacological properties have been found from marine living being. One among them is gastropod which incorporates gastropod Xancus pyrum [8]. Xancus pyrum Linnaeus (Xancidae, Gastropoda) vernacular name Sankh shell, the moderate moving creature. The marine oils present uncommon troubles in the examination in view of the wide assortment of unsaturated fats. Though normal oils may for the most part be dissected as far as individual acids, if there should arise an occurrence of marine oils it is just conceivable to assess the different acids as per chain length. The fatty acids from the gastropod Xancus pyrum were obtained through extraction, isolation and chromatographic separation of visceral mass of the animals. Of the 14 fatty acids methyl esters investigated 8 were saturated fatty acids and 6 unsaturated fatty acids. Whereas out of 8 saturated fatty acids, 5 of them were the common acids. These fatty acids were used to treat cardiac diseases and

Chemoprotective Effect of Edible Gastropod, Xancus pyrum and Its Usefulness…

limpets, and the terrestrial (land) snails and slugs [7].

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88655

2. Taxonomic position of Xancus pyrum

have basic cone-formed shells as grown-ups [10].

2.2 Xancus pyrum

53

obesity [9].

2.1 Gastropod description

Natural products have a long history of use in the service of mankind for the prophylaxis and treatment of several diseases and cancer is not an exception. For such a dreadful disease, apart from conventional modalities like surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy a few other approaches are also available or being tried. It has been reported that one-third of cancer patients use some form of complementary and other alternative medicines. In the recent times considerable attention has been focused on the identification and development of natural products for chemoprevention by systemic and rigorous screening processes many of the potential chemo preventive agents have shown considerable safety and efficacy in preclinical evaluation and are in the stages of clinical testing [6]. The class Gastropoda or gastropods (also previously known as univalves sometimes also spelled Gasteropoda) form a major part of the phylum Mollusca. Gastropods are more commonly known as snail and slugs. This is the most diversified class in the phylum with 60,000–80,000 living species. There are 409 recent families of gastropods. Fossil gastropods represent another 202 families. This class of animals is second only Chemoprotective Effect of Edible Gastropod, Xancus pyrum and Its Usefulness… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88655

to insects in its number of known species. The gastropods include many thousands of species of marine snails and sea slugs, as well as freshwater snails and fresh water limpets, and the terrestrial (land) snails and slugs [7].

The marine environment is a rich wellspring of both organic and compound biodiversity which has been investigated in the revelation of one of a kind synthetic compounds, having potential for mechanical improvement as pharmaceuticals, makeup, wholesome enhancements, atomic tests, fine synthetics and agrochemicals. As of late of novel metabolites with powerful pharmacological properties have been found from marine living being. One among them is gastropod which incorporates gastropod Xancus pyrum [8]. Xancus pyrum Linnaeus (Xancidae, Gastropoda) vernacular name Sankh shell, the moderate moving creature. The marine oils present uncommon troubles in the examination in view of the wide assortment of unsaturated fats. Though normal oils may for the most part be dissected as far as individual acids, if there should arise an occurrence of marine oils it is just conceivable to assess the different acids as per chain length. The fatty acids from the gastropod Xancus pyrum were obtained through extraction, isolation and chromatographic separation of visceral mass of the animals. Of the 14 fatty acids methyl esters investigated 8 were saturated fatty acids and 6 unsaturated fatty acids. Whereas out of 8 saturated fatty acids, 5 of them were the common acids. These fatty acids were used to treat cardiac diseases and obesity [9].

## 2. Taxonomic position of Xancus pyrum

#### 2.1 Gastropod description

builds up, its odds of spreading, the manner in which it influences one's body and the side effects one may involvement. A few components, including area and how the destructive cells show up under the magnifying instrument, decide how disease is analysed. All malignant growths, be that as it may, can be categorized as one of four general classes, for example, carcinoma, leukaemia, sarcoma and lymphoma. Carcinoma is a type of cancer developed from epithelial cells. This is the single largest group of human cancers forming about 80% of all cancers. Tumours arising from connective tissue cells (mesenchymal tissue) such as fibroblasts or bone cells are called sarcomas. Cancers of blood forming cells are called leukaemia. Sometimes cancer produced from the lymphoid origin is localized in lymph glands called lymphomas [2]. Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the dominant weapons in the arsenal for the treatment of cancer. They kill not only the tumour cells but also normal cells [3]. An enormous number of tumours are ineffectively responsive or even non-reacting to remedial medications and radiotherapy. Expanding the dosages of cytotoxic medications and radiation neglect to improve the reaction to these treatments and a significant number of them show protection from slaughtering. A perfect methodology is distinguish anticancer specialists that trigger adequately the procedure of cell demise specially in tumour cells [4]. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments are made as they wipe out fast growing cancer cells, they can also damage fast growing normal cells. They can affect some healthy, fast growing cells causing side effects some of the most common include, Depression of the immune system, which can result in potentially fatal infections. Fatigue, the treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient, who might already be very tired from cancer-related fatigue. It may produce mild to severe anaemia. Inclination to drain effectively, prescriptions that murder quickly separating cells or platelets are probably going to lessen the quantity of platelets in the blood, which can result in wounds and dying. Amazingly low platelet checks might be incidentally helped through platelet transfusions. At times, chemotherapy medicines are delayed to permit platelet checks to recuperate. Gastrointestinal misery, nausea and regurgitating are basic symptoms of chemotherapeutic drugs that murder quick partitioning cells. This can likewise deliver loose bowels or blockage, malnutrition and lack of hydration. This can result in fast weight reduction. Male pattern baldness, a few prescriptions that slaughter quickly isolating cells cause sensational male pattern baldness; different drugs may make hair meager. These are transitory impacts: hair for the most part begins developing back half a month after the last treatment, now and again with an inclination to twist that

Natural products have a long history of use in the service of mankind for the prophylaxis and treatment of several diseases and cancer is not an exception. For such a dreadful disease, apart from conventional modalities like surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy a few other approaches are also available or being tried. It has been reported that one-third of cancer patients use some form of complementary and other alternative medicines. In the recent times considerable attention has been focused on the identification and development of natural products for chemoprevention by systemic and rigorous screening processes many of the potential chemo preventive agents have shown considerable safety and efficacy in preclinical evaluation and are in the stages of clinical testing [6]. The class Gastropoda or gastropods (also previously known as univalves sometimes also spelled Gasteropoda) form a major part of the phylum Mollusca. Gastropods are more commonly known as snail and slugs. This is the most diversified class in the phylum with 60,000–80,000 living species. There are 409 recent families of gastropods. Fossil gastropods represent another 202 families. This class of animals is second only

might be known as a "chemo perm" [5].

Invertebrates - Ecophysiology and Management

52

The word gastropod is from the Greek, gastro importance stomach and poda significance foot, thus stomach-foot, a somewhat human name dependent on the way that to people it appears that snails and slugs slither on their tummies. In actuality, snails and slugs have all their viscera, including their stomach, in a mound on the inverse, dorsal side of the body. The shell has extensive noteworthiness in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is viewed as hallowed and is one of the eight propitious images. In these religious settings the shell is now and again changed by having the tip of the tower cut off, with the goal that it tends to be blown as a formal trumpet. A few shells that are utilized along these lines are brightened with metal and semiprecious stones. The gastropod shell is the piece of the body of a gastropod or snail, a sort of mollusk. The gastropod shell is an outside skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves for muscle connection, yet additionally for security from predators and from mechanical harm. In land snails the shell is a basic insurance against the sun, and against drying out. The gastropod shell has a few layers, and is commonly made of calcium carbonate accelerated out into a natural framework known as conchiolin. The shell is discharged by a piece of the molluscan body known as the mantle. Not all gastropods have a shell, however the greater part do. In pretty much every case the shell comprises of one piece, and is ordinarily spirally snaked, albeit a few gatherings, for example, the different various families and genera of limpets, have basic cone-formed shells as grown-ups [10].

#### 2.2 Xancus pyrum

Xancus pyrum, common names the chank shell, sacred chank or chank, also known as the divine conch, sometimes referred to simply as a conch, is a species of very large sea snail with a gill and an operculum. It is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae. This species occurs in the Indian Ocean. The name "chank" for the shell of this species is derived from the Indian word shankha, the divine conch. The old generic name was Turbinella. The Dutch used to call them chianco.

3.2.2 Administration of extract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88655

3.3.1 Experimental protocol

cisplatin treated animals

cisplatin treated animals

method per femur [11].

3.3.4.1 Principle

the microscope [12].

3.3.4.2 Reagents

55

For animal administration the extract was dissolved in minimum quantity of methanol, then resuspended in 1% gum acacia in phosphate buffered saline and given at a concentration of 0.5 g/dose/animal/intraperitoneally. For in vitro experiments, the extract was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diluted in the

medium so that the concentration of DMSO was less than 0.1%vol/vol.

Chemoprotective Effect of Edible Gastropod, Xancus pyrum and Its Usefulness…

3.3 Chemoprotective effect of edible gastropod meat, Xancus pyrum

Group 1: Normal animals, without any treatment.

intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days.

weighed and expressed as relative organ weight.

The animals were divided into three groups of six animals each as follows:

3.3.2 Determination of the effects of on Xancus pyrum on lymphoid organ weight in

Eighteen animals were randomly divided into 3 groups containing six animals each, one as normal, which did not receive any treatment. The second group as treated animals, treated with cisplatin alone. Third group treated with cisplatin and Xancus pyrum Three animals from each group were sacrificed at two different time intervals (7th and 11th day) by cervical dislocation. Body weight of each animal was taken before sacrifice, lymphoid organs such as thymus and spleen was excised,

3.3.3 Determination of the effects of Xancus pyrum on bone marrow cellularity (BMC) in

Bone marrow cellularity was done according to the method. Bone marrow was collected from the femur into the medium containing 2% serum and made into single cell suspension. The number of cells was determined using a haemocytometer and expressed as total cells determined by tryphan blue (1% in saline) exclusion

3.3.4 Determination of the effects of Xancus pyrum on alpha esterase activity in cisplatin

Esterase enzyme present or absent in monocytes hydrolyses the substrate alphanaphthyl acetate to form an invisible primary reaction product (PRP). The complex is coupled with the diazonium salt to produce coloured final reaction product under

1.Fixative solution. Formaldehyde (HCHO 37%, 25 ml) acetone (45 ml), double distilled water (30 ml), disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4-20 mg) and

potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4-100 mg).

treated animals (azodye coupling method, Bancroft and Cook, 1984)

Group 2: Treated animals received cisplatin alone dissolved in 1% gum acacia

Group 3: Treated animals received Xancus pyrum (0.5 mg) methanolic extracts. Dissolved in 1% gum acacia intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days.

The shell of this species is massive, with three or four prominent columellar plicae. It is usually pure white under a heavy brown periostracum, but it can also be a pale apricot colour. It can sometimes be dotted with dark brown. The shell has impressive importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is viewed as hallowed and is of the eight propitious images. In these religious settings the shell is now and again altered by having the tip of the tower cut off, with the goal that it tends to be blown as a formal trumpet. A few shells that are utilized along these lines are beautified with metal and semiprecious stones. The shell of this species is quite often right - turned in its shell-looping, yet all around once in a while a left-gave, or sinistral, shell is found. In the Hindu religious setting, the exceptionally uncommon left-gave or sinistral shells of this species are known as "Dakshinavarti", instead of the more typical right-gave ones which are known as "Vamavarti". The Dakshinavarti is especially exceptionally esteemed as far as its

religious importance.

Systematic position: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Clade: Neogastropoda Superfamily: Muricoidea Family: Turbinellidae Subfamily: Turbinellinae Genus: Xancus Species: X. pyrum

## 3. Methodology

#### 3.1 Animals

Innate BALB/C (6 two months) mice, gauging 23–28 g, were gotten from Pasteur Institute, rearing area, Coonoor. The creatures were housed in ventilated plastic enclosures at 37 1°c, 40 10% dampness, and 12/12-h light/dull cycles during about 14 days of acclimatization to research facility conditions and all through the whole test time frame. The creatures were encouraged with ordinary mouse chow (Sai Feeds, Mumbai, India), and given water ad libitum. Every single creature investigation was directed by the guidelines and guidelines of Animal Ethics Committee, Government of India.

#### 3.2 Preparation and administration of extract

#### 3.2.1 Preparation of extract

Xancus pyrum (Gastropod) were collected from Shell meat dealers, Tuticorin, South east coast of India. The Gastropod meat was washed in distilled water and dried in a hot air oven at 50°C. The dried meat was powdered and extracted overnight by stirring with 10 volumes of 75% methanol. Supernatant was collected after centrifuging at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The solvent was evaporated to dryness at 45°C in hot water bath. The yield of the extract was 10%.

Chemoprotective Effect of Edible Gastropod, Xancus pyrum and Its Usefulness… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88655

## 3.2.2 Administration of extract

the family Turbinellidae. This species occurs in the Indian Ocean. The name "chank" for the shell of this species is derived from the Indian word shankha, the divine conch. The old generic name was Turbinella. The Dutch used to call them

uncommon left-gave or sinistral shells of this species are known as

The shell of this species is massive, with three or four prominent columellar plicae. It is usually pure white under a heavy brown periostracum, but it can also be a pale apricot colour. It can sometimes be dotted with dark brown. The shell has impressive importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is viewed as hallowed and is of the eight propitious images. In these religious settings the shell is now and again altered by having the tip of the tower cut off, with the goal that it tends to be blown as a formal trumpet. A few shells that are utilized along these lines are beautified with metal and semiprecious stones. The shell of this species is quite often right - turned in its shell-looping, yet all around once in a while a left-gave, or sinistral, shell is found. In the Hindu religious setting, the exceptionally

"Dakshinavarti", instead of the more typical right-gave ones which are known as "Vamavarti". The Dakshinavarti is especially exceptionally esteemed as far as its

Innate BALB/C (6 two months) mice, gauging 23–28 g, were gotten from Pasteur Institute, rearing area, Coonoor. The creatures were housed in ventilated plastic enclosures at 37 1°c, 40 10% dampness, and 12/12-h light/dull cycles during about 14 days of acclimatization to research facility conditions and all through the whole test time frame. The creatures were encouraged with ordinary mouse chow (Sai Feeds, Mumbai, India), and given water ad libitum. Every single creature investigation was directed by the guidelines and guidelines of Animal Ethics Com-

Xancus pyrum (Gastropod) were collected from Shell meat dealers, Tuticorin, South east coast of India. The Gastropod meat was washed in distilled water and dried in a hot air oven at 50°C. The dried meat was powdered and extracted overnight by stirring with 10 volumes of 75% methanol. Supernatant was collected after centrifuging at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The solvent was evaporated to dryness at

chianco.

Invertebrates - Ecophysiology and Management

religious importance. Systematic position: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Clade: Neogastropoda Superfamily: Muricoidea Family: Turbinellidae Subfamily: Turbinellinae

> Genus: Xancus Species: X. pyrum

3. Methodology

mittee, Government of India.

3.2.1 Preparation of extract

54

3.2 Preparation and administration of extract

45°C in hot water bath. The yield of the extract was 10%.

3.1 Animals

For animal administration the extract was dissolved in minimum quantity of methanol, then resuspended in 1% gum acacia in phosphate buffered saline and given at a concentration of 0.5 g/dose/animal/intraperitoneally. For in vitro experiments, the extract was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diluted in the medium so that the concentration of DMSO was less than 0.1%vol/vol.
