ANTICANCER AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF ALKALOID EXTRACT OF SOLANUM KHASIANUM BERRIES.

Gabriel Rosangkima* and Ganesh Chandra Jagetia

ABSTRACT

In the present studies the anticancer properties of alkaloidal extract from Solanum khasianum berries was investigated against murine ascites Dalton’s lymphoma in vivo. In vitro radical scavenging activity of the alkaloid extract against 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical was also determined. The results of present study showed that alkaloidal extract (SKF-Alk) exhibited potent anticancer activity against Dalton’s lymphoma in vivo in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum anticancer activity (%ILS = 185%) was observed at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day. A single intraperitoneal injection of tumor-bearing mice with SKF-Alk (60 mg/kg b. wt.) caused significant decrease in tissue glutathione content and significant increase in tissue lipid peroxidation and catalase activities. SKF-Alk-mediated decrease in GSH level, catalase activity and increase in lipid peroxidation in DL cells and the antioxidant property of this alkaloidal extract may be an important contributory factors involved in its anticancer potential. However, further studies are required to establish its anticancer efficacy using more animal and human cancer cell lines and also to observe any adverse side effects in the normal tissues.

Keywords: Solanum khasianum, alkaloid, Dalton’s lymphoma, anticancer, radical scavenging.