title: Leucas aspera inhibits the Dalton's ascitic lymphoma in Swiss albino mice: A preliminary study exploring possible mechanism of action.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  North East India is a rich source of medicinal plants and a number of plant extracts are used by tribal peoples living in this area for various disorders. L.aspera is such a plant, traditionally used as an antitumor agent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, aerial parts of L.aspera were investigated for antitumor activity in Dalton's lymphoma (DAL) bearing mice. The ability of plant extract in free radical scavenging, neoangiogenesis inhibition and macrophage stimulation were also checked.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity studies ethyl acetate fraction of L.aspera (EALA) was selected for the detailed study. DAL ascites tumor model was performed to check the antitumor activity of EALA (200 and 400mg/kg of body weight). Hematological and histopathological parameters were estimated. Antioxidant levels, neoangiogenesis and peritoneal macrophage count were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro MTT and Trypan blue assay results showed the cytotoxic effect of EALA in DAL cells lines. EALA treatment resulted in significant decrease in ascites tumor volume and viable cell count. Hematological and liver antioxidant parameters were normalised by EALA treatment. It was also found that EALA treatment inhibits neovascularisation and produce macrophage stimulation in treated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that EALA is a promising anticancer agent and its activity is comparable to the standard drug 5-Flouro uracil (5-FU).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Bibin Baby
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Girijananda Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Azara, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Suvakanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Mangala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Pavan Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Samudrala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College, Trivandrum, India.
authors.forename: Jaya Mary
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomas
keywords: Antioxidant; L.aspera; antitumor; macrophage stimulation; neoangiogenesis