Various parts of Mimusops elengi Linn. (Sapotaceae) have been used widely in traditional Indian medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation and wounds. The study was conducted to explore the use of stem bark of M. elengi on pharmacological grounds and to evaluate the scientific basis of cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity. Extract/fractions were prepared and in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using SRB assay. Most effective fractions were subjected to fluorescence microscopy based acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and Hoechst 33342 staining to determine apoptosis induction and DNA fragmentation assay. Comet and micronuclei assay were performed to assess genotoxicity. Cell cycle analysis was also performed. In vivo anti-tumor potential was evaluated by Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model in mice. The alcoholic stem bark extract of M. elengi along with four fractions showed potential in vitro cytotoxicity in SRB assay. Of these, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions were selected for further studies. The fractions revealed apoptosis inducing potential in AO/EB and Hoechst 33342 staining, which was further confirmed by DNA fragmentation assay. Genotoxic potential was revealed by comet and micronuclei assay. Fractions also exhibited specific cell cycle inhibition in G 0 /G 1 phase. In EAC model, ethyl acetate fraction along with the standard (cisplatin) effectively reduced the increase in body weight compared to control and improved mean survival time. Both fractions were able to restore the altered hematological and biochemical parameters. Hence, M. elengi stem bark may be a possible therapeutic candidate having cytotoxic and anti-tumor potential.
Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the world today. Although chemotherapeutic regimen remains the prime treatment of cancer, it is important to explore for newer compounds due to their adverse reactions and the growing rate of resistance. Traditionally, some plants are used for the treatment of cancers in India. However, no scientific data backing the evidence exists for the same. Among such plants is Cleome viscosa Linn, which is used in the Indian system of medicine for cancer treatment. To test its anticancer activity and generate scientifically reliable data, the extraction of whole plant has been carried out using methanol and fractions were generated using petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The fractions were first tested in vitro for their antiproliferative activity and mechanistic studies. In this paper, we report the anticancer potential of the fractions by a preliminary cytotoxicity activity in vitro using cell lines followed by the liquid tumor (EAC) model in mice. Upon screening on a panel of cancer cell lines, the fractions of petroleum ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate were found to possess significant cytotoxic activity on Hela and U343 cell lines. With this evidence, we have then tested the in vivo activity on mice using the liquid tumor model in which the fractions of pet ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate exhibit a potential anticancer activity which is evident in characteristics like inhibition of tumor progression, increase in the mean survival time and percentage increased life span along with a decrease in tumor volume. The fractions also showed significant anti-oxidant properties.
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