Anticancer and antioxidant activities of Cordia dichotoma Forst

Abstract

Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the antitumor and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Cordia dichotoma (MECD) against EAC in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: The present study evaluated the anticancer effect of the methanolic extract of C. dichotoma (MECD) bark against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells induced in albino mice and against human cancer cell lines (malondialdehyde-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells). Results and Discussion: There was significant fall in the red blood cell count and hemoglobin (Hb) content, and a significant increase in white blood cell (WBC) count in the EAC control mice as compared to normal control mice. Treatment with MECD (500 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) or 5-Fluorouracil (20 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) in EAC-cell bearing mice caused a significant (P < 0.01) increase in Hb levels while a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in WBC levels compared to EAC control rats. Furthermore, increase in the concentration of MECD dose-dependently increased the percent cytotoxicity and decreased the cell viability in both cell line types. The results with MECD were comparable to the tamoxifen. The maximum gain of body weight was observed in the EAC control group. In case of MECD and 5-Fluorouracil treated groups, the body weight was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced. The tumor volume and tumor weight were found to be significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) decreased in MECD treated animals at the doses 250 and 500 mg/kg and 5-Fluorouracil (20 mg/kg) when compared with EAC control animals. With MECD treatment, the survival of EAC bearing mice significantly (P < 0.01) increased as compared to EAC bearing control group. In treated group, mean survival time (MST) was significantly increased to 29.0 ± 1.98 (%ILS = 69.04), 34.12 ± 1.84 (%ILS = 81.25), and 36.87 ± 1.67 (%ILS = 87.79), respectively, when compared to EAC control group. Conclusion: The results of the current study propose that the antitumor activity of MECD can be inferred from the increased life span of EAC bearing mice which is due to its antioxidant activity.