Antitumour and antioxidant activity of Scutia myrtina against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice.

The aim of this study is to investigate the antitumour and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice. Twenty-four hours after tumour inoculation, EESM was administered at doses 100, 200 and 300 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight/mice/day for 21 days. EESM caused a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in ascites volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count, and also prolonged the life span of EAC tumour-bearing mice. Haematological profiles reverted to near-normal levels in extract-treated mice (p < 0.01). EESM also produced protective effects by significantly decreasing the activity of serum enzymes and bilirubin and increasing the protein and uric acid levels (p < 0.05). EESM significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation, while it significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The results indicate that EESM exhibited significant antitumour and antioxidant activities in EAC-bearing mice.

Hepatoprotective effects and antioxidant role of Scutia myrtina on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) was evaluated against paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum transaminase (SGPT and SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein and uric acid. Further, the effects of the extract on lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C and Vitamin E, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were estimated. The ethanol extract of Scutia myrtina (EESM) (100 and 200 mg/kg) produced significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes, bilirubin, and lipid peroxidation, while it significantly increased the levels of protein, uric acid, GSH, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, SOD and CAT (P < 0.05). The effects of EESM were comparable to that of standard drug Silymarin. The results indicate that EESM shows hepatoprotective effects on paracetamol-induced liver damage in rat this may due to antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of EESM.