Antitumour Chemopreventive and Cytotoxicity Studies of Indigofera aspalathoides Vahl and Bauhinia variegata Linn

Abstract

Ethanol extract of Indigofera aspalathoides and Bauhinia variegata were studied for antitumour effect against two transplantable tumours viz. Dalton s ascitic lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The antitumour effect of these two extracts is evident from the increase in lifespan, decrease in average body weight, and increase in peritoneal cell count, reduction in solid tumour volume and also the reversal of altered haematological parameter near to normal. The chemopreventive effect of these two extracts against hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethyl nitrosamines was also evaluated. Chemopreventive effect of these extracts is evident from the reversal to normal of morphological and histopathological changes, as also biochemical parameters all which was altered by DEN. In addition, these extracts have an antioxidant effect as reflected by decrease in LPO, GST and GPx (oxidant enzymes) and increase in SOD and catalase (Free radical scavengers). It is likely that the chemopreventive effect is mediated through the antioxidant effect. The active principle from EIA was 5,4 -dihydroxy 6,8-dimethoxy flavone 7- O-rhamnoside and EBV was 5,7,4 -trimethoxy flavanone. These compounds were isolated and found to be cytotoxic on human cancer cell lines viz. human epithelial larynx cancer cell (HEp2), human breast cancer cell (HBL-100) and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa). The fact that these are the active compounds responsible for anticancer activity is evident from cytotoxic studies of the extract as also the isolated compounds against human cancer cell lines. These two extracts were evaluated on rats for subacute toxicity. There was no change in organ weight, haematological parameters and biochemical parameters, but there was a normal increase in body weight. Morphological and Histopathological characters of liver and kidney were also not altered. All these are indication of the safety of the extracts for administration. newline