Antitumor activity and antioxidant property of Curcuma caesia against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma bearing mice.

CONTEXT: Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as "Kala Haldi" in Bengali, has been traditionally used for the treatment of cancer, bruises, inflammation and as an aphrodisiac. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antitumor activity and antioxidant status of the methanol extract of Curcuma caesia (MECC) rhizomes on Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC)-treated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro cytotoxicity assay of MECC was evaluated by using Trypan blue method. Determination of in vivo antitumor activity was performed after 24 h of EAC cells (2 × 10(6) cells/mouse) inoculation; MECC (50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.) was administered daily for nine consecutive days. On day 10, half of the mice were sacrificed and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in lifespan. Antitumor effect of MECC was assessed by the study of tumor volume, tumor weight, viable and non-viable cell count, hematological parameters and biochemical estimations. Furthermore, antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver and kidney tissue enzymes. RESULTS: MECC showed direct cytotoxicity (IC50 90.70 ± 8.37 µg/mL) on EAC cell line. MECC exhibited significant (p < 0.01) decrease in tumor volume, tumor weight, viable cell count and percentage increased the lifespan (57.14 and 88.09%) of EAC-treated mice. Hematological profile, biochemical estimation, tissue antioxidant assay significantly (p < 0.01) reverted to normal level in MECC-treated mice. CONCLUSION: MECC possesses potent antitumor activity that may be due to its direct cytotoxic effect or antioxidant properties. Further research is in progress to find out the active principle(s) of MECC for its antitumor activity.

Evaluation of antitumor activity and in vivo antioxidant status of Anthocephalus cadamba on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma treated mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. (Family: Rubiaceae) is commonly known as "Kadamba" in Sanskrit and Hindi in India. Various parts of this plant have been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of tumor, wound healing, inflammation and as a hypoglycemic agent. AIM OF STUDY: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the antitumor activity and antioxidant status of defatted methanol extract of A. cadamba (MEAC) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) treated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro cytotoxicity assay has been evaluated by using the trypan blue method. The determination of in vivo antitumor activity was performed by using different EAC cells (2 × 10(6) cells, i.p.) inoculated mice groups (n=12). The groups were treated for 9 consecutive days with MEAC at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. respectively. After 24h of last dose and 18 h of fasting, half of the mice were sacrificed and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life span. The antitumor potential of MEAC was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight, hematological parameters and biochemical estimations. Furthermore, antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimating liver and kidney tissue enzymes. RESULTS: MEAC showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cell line in a dose dependant manner. MEAC exhibited significant (P<0.01) decrease in the tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. The hematological profile, biochemical estimations and tissue antioxidant assay were reverted to normal level in MEAC treated mice. CONCLUSION: Experimental results revealed that MEAC possesses potent antitumor and antioxidant properties. Further research is going on to find out the active principle(s) of MEAC for better understanding of mechanism of its antitumor and antioxidant activity.

Preclinical evaluation of antihyperglycemic activity of Clerodendron infortunatum leaf against streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION: Clerodendron infortunatum Linn. (Verbenaceae), commonly known as Bhant in Hindi, is a small shrub occurring throughout the plains of India, which is traditionally used for several medicinal purposes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preclinical antihyperglycemic activity of the methanol extract of the leaves of C. infortunatum (MECI) in Wistar rats. METHODS: Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg body weight). Three days after STZ induction, the hyperglycemic rats were treated with MECI intraperitoneally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg, orally) was used as a reference drug. The fasting blood glucose levels were measured on every fifth day during the 15 days of treatment. Serum biochemical parameters such as glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and total protein were estimated. Antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating hepatic lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT). RESULTS: MECI at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg intraperitoneally significantly (P<0.001) and dose-dependently reduced and normalized blood glucose levels as compared to that of the STZ control group. Serum biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.001) restored towards normal levels in MECI-treated rats as compared to the STZ control. MECI treatment also significantly (P<0.001) decreased lipid peroxidation and recovered GSH levels and CAT activity towards normal values, as compared to the STZ control. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the leaves of C. infortunatum had remarkable preclinical antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats.