Abstract

Studies on Antitumor Activity of Tinospora Tomentosa Miers against Ehrlich ascites Carcinoma in Swiss albino Mice

Author(s): Debabrata Devbhuti and Jayanta Kumar Gupta

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antitumor effect of Tinospora tomentosa Miers. (Family: Menispermaceae) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. The effect of methanol and aqueous extracts of Tinospora tomentosa Miers on tumor (ascetic fluid) growth was studied by the following parameters: percentage inhibition of ascetic cells and percentage inhibition of tumor (ascetic fluid) weight. Methanol and aqueous extracts were administered at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight intraperitonially once a day for 7 days, after 24 hours of tumor inoculation. Decrease in ascitic cell count and ascetic fluid weight were observed in extract treated animals, when compared to EAC treated animals. Methanol extract of the plant at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg showed significant (p < 0.05) results while aqueous extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg also showed significant (p < 0.05) antitumor activity. The results were dose dependent and suggest that both the extracts of the stem of Tinospora tomentosa Miers. exhibit significant antitumor effects in EAC bearing mice.