Abstract

This investigation aims to evaluate the antitumour and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract of Tragia Plukenetii R.Smith (ETP) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor model. Tumor was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of EAC cells (2x10⁶ cells/mouse). Ethanol extract of T. Plukenetii (ETP) was administered to the experimental animals at the dose levels of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/day after 24 h of tumour inoculation. The antitumour effect of ETP was evaluated by assessing in vitro cytotoxicity, survival time, hematological and antioxidant parameters. Oral administration of ETP increased the survival time of the EAC bearing mice. The ETP brought back the altered levels of the hematological and antioxidant parameters in a dose dependent manner in EAC bearing mice. The results were comparable to that of the result obtained from the animals treated with the standard drug 5-flurouracil (20 mg/kg.bw). Thus present study revealed that ETP possessed significant antitumor and antioxidant activity.

Key words: Tragia Plukenetii, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, hematological parameters, antioxidant, tumour growth response.