Antioxidant and Antitumor Activity of Plumeria acuminata in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Swiss Albino Mice.

Aim: This study was designed to determine the antitumor and antioxidant properties of crude methanol extract from the leaves of Plumeria acuminata (Apocynaceae) (MEPA) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Study Design: Study design is methodology, mentioned below. Place and Duration of Study: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India between 2006 and 2007. Methodology: The extract was administered at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day for 14 days, after 24 hr of tumor inoculation. After the administration of the last dose followed by 18 hr fasting, mice were then sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity. The effect of MEPA on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing host, viable and non-viable cell count, packed cell volume, hematological profile and biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were estimated. Results: MEPA caused significant (P<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable count; and it prolonged the life span of EAC-tumor bearing mice. Hematological studies reveal that the Hb content and RBC count were decreased in EAC treated mice, whereas the restoration to near normal levels was observed in extract treated animals. MEPA significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and significantly increased the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Moreover the MEPA was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when administered daily for 14 days at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg Conclusion: The results suggested that the methanol extract of Plumeria acuminata leaves exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in EAC bearing Swiss albino mice.

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Ervatamia coronaria stapf. leaves

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of methanolic extract of Ervatamia coronaria leaves [Apocynaceae] in various systems. DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of methanolic extract increased in a dose dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250 and 500 micro g of methanol extract of Ervatamia coronaria [MEEC] showed 61.33, 66.21, 72.04 and 76.83% inhibition respectively on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion. Like antioxidant activity, the effect of MEEC on reducing power increases in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assay the IC[50] value of the extract was found to be 167.09 micro g/ml. MEEC was found to inhibit the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside. The IC[50] value was found to be 83.375 micro g/ml, whereas the IC[50] value of curcumin was 20.4 micro g/ml. Moreover, the MEEC was found to scavenge the superoxide generated by PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEEC was also found to inhibit the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, where the IC[50] value of MEEC was found to be more than 1000 micro g/ml and for catechin the IC[50] value was found to be 5 micro g/ml, which indicates the prooxidant activity of MEEC. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined in this study. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the MEEC can be a potential source of natural antioxidant