Antioxidant and Antitumor Activity of Plumeria acuminata in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Swiss Albino Mice.

Aim: This study was designed to determine the antitumor and antioxidant properties of crude methanol extract from the leaves of Plumeria acuminata (Apocynaceae) (MEPA) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Study Design: Study design is methodology, mentioned below. Place and Duration of Study: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India between 2006 and 2007. Methodology: The extract was administered at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day for 14 days, after 24 hr of tumor inoculation. After the administration of the last dose followed by 18 hr fasting, mice were then sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity. The effect of MEPA on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing host, viable and non-viable cell count, packed cell volume, hematological profile and biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were estimated. Results: MEPA caused significant (P<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable count; and it prolonged the life span of EAC-tumor bearing mice. Hematological studies reveal that the Hb content and RBC count were decreased in EAC treated mice, whereas the restoration to near normal levels was observed in extract treated animals. MEPA significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and significantly increased the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Moreover the MEPA was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when administered daily for 14 days at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg Conclusion: The results suggested that the methanol extract of Plumeria acuminata leaves exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in EAC bearing Swiss albino mice.

Radical scavenging activities of the leaf extracts and a flavonoid glycoside isolated from Cineraria abyssinica Sch. Bip. Exa. Rich.

The aqueous decoction of the leaves of Cineraria abyssinica Sch. Bip. exA. Rich (Asteraceae) is used for treatments of myriads of diseases associated with oxidative stress. However, there appear to have been lack reports on its phytochemistry and pharmacological activities. The main purpose of this study was, therefore, to determine the radical scavenging activities of the leaf extracts of C. abyssinica. The aqueous and 80% methanolic crude extracts, chloroform, acetone and methanol fractions of the leaf extracts of C. abyssinica showed potent radical scavenging activities (IC50 = 5.27-12.41 μg/ml). Activity-guided fractionation of the most active, methanol fraction resulted in the isolation of a flavonoidal glycoside, rutin. The structure was assigned on the basis of spectroscopic methods including ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infra red (FT-IR), mass spectrometry (MS) and one and two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1D- and 2D-NMR). Rutin showed the most potent DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 3.53 μg/ml) slightly higher than ascorbic acid (IC50 = 3.57 μg/ml). Acute toxicity studies on the crude extracts showed the nontoxic nature of the plant up to 3 g/kg. Therefore, the present study revealed for the first time the presence of antioxidant phytochemical in the leaves of C. abyssinica that scientifically validated the traditional use and its great potential to be used as a source of antioxidant phytochemicals.