Evaluation of antitumor activity and in vivo antioxidant status of Anthocephalus cadamba on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma treated mice.
BACKGROUND
Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. (Family: Rubiaceae) is commonly known as "Kadamba" in Sanskrit and Hindi in India. Various parts of this plant have been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of tumor, wound healing, inflammation and as a hypoglycemic agent.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the antitumor activity and antioxidant status of defatted methanol extract of A. cadamba (MEAC) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) treated mice.


METHODS
In vitro cytotoxicity assay has been evaluated by using the trypan blue method. The determination of in vivo antitumor activity was performed by using different EAC cells (2 × 10(6) cells, i.p.) inoculated mice groups (n=12). The groups were treated for 9 consecutive days with MEAC at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. respectively. After 24h of last dose and 18 h of fasting, half of the mice were sacrificed and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life span. The antitumor potential of MEAC was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight, hematological parameters and biochemical estimations. Furthermore, antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver and kidney tissue enzymes.


RESULTS
MEAC showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cell line in a dose dependant manner. MEAC exhibited significant (P<0.01) decrease in the tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. The hematological profile, biochemical estimations and tissue antioxidant assay were reverted to normal level in MEAC treated mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Experimental results revealed that MEAC possesses potent antitumor and antioxidant properties. Further research is going on to find out the active principle(s) of MEAC for better understanding of mechanism of its antitumor and antioxidant activity.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, WB, India.
Narayan
N
Dolai
Indrajit
I
Karmakar
R B
RB
Suresh Kumar
Biswakanth
B
Kar
Asis
A
Bala
Pallab Kanti
PK
Haldar
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019666:Rubiaceae; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione