Chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera in experimentally induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice.

Abstract

The current experimental work deals with the chemopreventive studies of a hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera roots, against 20-methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice. A single subcutaneous injection of 200 microg 20-methylcholanthrene in 0.1 mL of dimethylsulphoxide into the thigh region of mice produced a high incidence (96%) of tumours. Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract (one week before injecting 20-methylcholanthrene and continued until 15 weeks thereafter) significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The tumour incidence was also delayed in the treatment group when compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. Liver biochemical parameters revealed a significant modulation of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxides, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in extract treated mice compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The mechanism of chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera extract may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.

• Authors: J Prakash, S K Gupta, V Kochupillai, N Singh, Y K Gupta, S Joshi
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 240-4 (May 2001) ISSN: 0951-418X [Print] England
• PMID: 11351360 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Methylcholanthrene

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Anticarcinogenic Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Fibrosarcoma (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Liver Function Tests
• Medicine, Ayurvedic
• Methylcholanthrene
• Mice
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plants, Medicinal
• Solanaceae