The anticancer effect of methanolic extracts of Smilax perfoliata roots and Breynia retusa bark against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was investigated in the present study. The procured plant material was subjected to soxhlet extraction using methanol. Albino mice were divided into 7 groups of 6 mice (n = 6) in each group. Group I served as a control for about 14 days, and groups II to VII were administered EAC cells and the standard drug doxorubicin (0.3, i. p.) and test extracts at two doses 200 & 400 mg/kg daily. On last day of the experiment, mice were sacrificed for antitumor activity, tumor volume, cell viability, mean survival time and life span. Hematological and biochemical parameters were estimated. Liver sections were prepared and examined for histological changes. The antitumor effect of both the test extracts was dose-dependent. The volume of the tumor and cell viability were significantly reduced (**p < 0.001), whereas the mean survival time and life span were raised in a significant manner (**p < 0.001). The hematological parameters such as hemoglobin content, RBC, monocytes and lymphocytes were raised while WBC and neutrophils were reduced significantly (**p < 0.001) and the levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (SALP), and bilirubin were reduced significantly after the treatment with the test drugs. Histopathological study revealed the restoration of the structure of the liver in the post-treatment animals. It was concluded that the methanolic extract of S. perfoliata roots and B. retusa bark exhibited antitumor activity, which might be due to the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phytosterols, phenolic compounds phytosterols, carbohydrates and tannins. Further investigation of bioactive compounds is needed to confirm the anticancer properties thoroughly.
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