Abstract

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF CRUDE EXTRACTS AND ISOLATED COMPOUND SALICIN OF DESMODIUM GANGETICUM (L) DC AGAINST EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Preeti Srivastava*, Gaurava Srivastava, B. D. Singh, Santosh Kumar Singh

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The plant Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC (Fabaceae), is commonly known as ‘shalparni’ in India and ‘ticktree’ in English. Traditionally the whole plant is a bitter tonic used as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer. Aim of study: The objective of the present study was to explore the anticancer activity of the methanol (MEDG), ethylacetate (EADG) extracts and isolated compound salicin of the D. gangeticum against Swiss albino mice Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. Materials and methods: Anticancer activity of MEDG, EADG extracts and salicin of D. gangeticum were evaluated in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. MEDG and EADG were administered intraperitoneally for nine consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last dose and 18 h of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and antitumor effect of MEDG, EADG and salicin were assessed by evaluating tumor volume, tumor weight, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, hematological parameters and biochemical parameters of the EAC bearing host. Results: MEDG, EADG and salicin administration produced significant (p < 0.01) decrease in tumor weight, tumor volume, viable cell count and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile, such as RBC, WBC, lymphocyte counts and hemoglobin content reverted to near normal level in MEDG, EADG and salicin treated mice. These extracts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Conclusion: The data indicated that the D. gangeticum extracts as well as salicin compound have potent dose dependent anticancer activity, which approaches that of 5-fluorouracil.

Keywords: 5-Fluorouracil, Anticancer activity, Desmodium gangeticum, Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line, Ethylacetate extract, Methanol extract, Salicin,