PRECLINICAL EVALUATION OF INVIVO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANTUM L AND ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA USING EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA IN SWISS ALBINO MICE.

Somayeh Afsah Vakili* and Meera Sumanth

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Preclinical evaluation of invivo anticancer activity of Punica grantum L and Ziziphus mauritiana using Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. METHODOLOGY: Experimental tumor was induced by inoculation of 1x106 Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells from the tumor bearing mice aseptically. Group 1 mice (n=12) served as normal control, group 2 mice (n=12) were Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells control. Group 3 mice (n=12) received standard drug 5- Flourouracil 20 mg/kg b.w, i.p., group 4, 5 and 6 (n=12) mice were administered, orally, aqueous, ethanol, chloroform extract of Punica grantum L of 200 mg/kg b.w, respectively, for nine days, group 7, 8 and 9(n=12) mice were administered, orally, aqueous, ethanol, chloroform extract of Ziziphus mauritiana of 200 mg/kg b.w, respectively, for nine days, whereas group 10, 11 and 12 (n=12) mice were administered, orally, aqueous, ethanol, chloroform extract of combination of both plants of 200 mg/kg b.w, respectively, for nine days. Change in body weight, survival time, ascites fluid volume and packed cell volume were noted. At the end of study, 6 animals from each group were sacrificed, blood samples were collected and WBC, RBC, Hb content were estimated. RESULTS: Ethanol extract of combination of Ziziphus mauritiana and Punica grantum showed significant reduction in body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume and percentage increase in life span. Significant increase in RBC, Hb content and reduction in WBC count were observed. CONCLUSION: Ethanol extract of combination of Ziziphus mauritiana and Punica grantum exhibited significant anticancer activity (r<0.001).

Keywords: Punica grantum L, Zizipus mauritiana , Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.