Abstract
<p>During past few decades cancer has remained as the largest cause of mortality worldwide and number of patients suffering from cancer has been increasing at a fast rate. Hence medical research during the last few decades has been concentrating on identification and characterization of new synthetic pharmacological compounds to overcome this enormous problem. Leaf extracts of coniferous plant <em>Cryptomeria japonica</em> being known for their strong antibacterial and antifungal functions were selected to determine their antitumor/anticancer potentialities.</p><p>Methanolic extract of leaves were tested to determine its antitumor action in standard murine model of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC). Graded doses of the extract were given intraperitoneally to batches of mice, who received EAC challenge after 3hr. Treatment with same amounts of extract was continued for 9 consecutive days. Protective capacity of the leaf extract was evaluated in animals.</p><p>Statistically significant protection was observed with respect to different parameters including tumor volume , tumor cell count , viable tumor cell count, non- viable tumor cell count , mean survival time and increase in life span. Simultaneously hematological parameters were restored in treated mice vis-à-vis untreated control animals. Furthermore, the extract revealed distinct cytotoxic property, which may be the relevant reason of its anticancer/antitumor function.</p>This study shows efficacy of methanolic extract of leaves of <em>Cryptomeria japonica </em>as a probable antitumor/anticancer agent. Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed presence of flavonoids, which are known to possess significant anticancer activity. Thus there is a definite possibility of developing novel anticancer drugs from such plant products
Highlights
Cancer has posed to be the most dreadful infection of human beings in the last few decades, and the number of patients suffering from various types of cancer had been rising steadily throughout the whole world [1]
Batches of mice taking increasing amounts of MC, Petroleum ether extract (PC) and chloroform extract (CC) were all found to survive for 100 h, tolerating the extracts even at the highest test doses
The amounts taken for determining the protective efficacy of each extract were: 100. 200 and 400 per mouse
Summary
Cancer has posed to be the most dreadful infection of human beings in the last few decades, and the number of patients suffering from various types of cancer had been rising steadily throughout the whole world [1]. This is a disease which is prevalent among people of both developed and underdeveloped countries. Agents include vinblastine, vincristine, camptothecin derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan and etoposide derived from epipodophyllotoxin Many such new agents are highly promising and are in the process of clinical development based on selective toxicity against cancer related molecular targets [9,10]. Based on the available literature the present study was designed to determine the antitumor and cytotoxic/ anticancer activity of different solvent extracts of the leaves of C. japonica
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