Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser on Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma Treated Mice

Abstract

The present study was undertaken is to explore the anticancer activity of the methanolic and aqueous stem extract of the Macrosolen parasiticus in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. The activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Macrosolen parasiticus was evaluated in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line at the doses of 150 and 300 mg kg-1 body weight orally. Both extracts at both doses were administered for 13 consecutive days. Twenty four hours of last dose and eighteen hours of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and anti cancer effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight and hematological parameters of EAC bearing host. The both the extracts showed significant decrease in (p<0.0001) tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Haematological profile such as RBC, haemoglobin and WBC count reverted to normal level in treated mice. From the result it was demonstrated that the extract has potent dose dependent anticancer activity and that is comparable to that of cisplatin. Aqueous extract at both doses (150 and 300 mg kg-1) and methanolic extract at 300 mg kg-1 dose showed potent anticancer activity. Further investigation to explore the potential of the aqueous extracts of M. parasiticus in tumor treatment may prove to be worthwhile as a natural source of the drug.