title: Chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera in experimentally induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice.
abstract: The current experimental work deals with the chemopreventive studies of a hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera roots, against 20-methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice. A single subcutaneous injection of 200 microg 20-methylcholanthrene in 0.1 mL of dimethylsulphoxide into the thigh region of mice produced a high incidence (96%) of tumours. Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract (one week before injecting 20-methylcholanthrene and continued until 15 weeks thereafter) significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The tumour incidence was also delayed in the treatment group when compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. Liver biochemical parameters revealed a significant modulation of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxides, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in extract treated mice compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The mechanism of chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera extract may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110029, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kochupillai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D019657:Solanaceae
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008748:Methylcholanthrene