Antitumor activity of Albizia lebbeck L. against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo and HeLa and A549 cell lines in vitro.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to explore the antitumor activity of the ethanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck L. pods against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and its cytotoxic effect against HeLa and A549 cell lines in vitro.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Antitumor activity of ethanolic extract of A. lebbeck L. (ALEE) pods was evaluated in Swiss albino mice against EAC cell lines at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight which were given by intraperitoneal route of administration and was compared with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the reference standard. The extract and 5-FU were administered for 14 consecutive days. After 24 h of the last dose and 18 h of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and the antitumor effect of ALEE was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, increase in life span, and hematological parameters of EAC-bearing hosts.In vitro cytotoxicity has been assessed using (2,3-bis[2-Methoxy-4-nitro-5sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide inner salt assay method and was compared with cisplatin, the reference standard.

RESULTS

ALEE showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cells in a dose-dependent manner. ALEE exhibited a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the body weight, tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight, and elevated the life span of EAC tumor-bearing mice. Hematological profile such as red blood cell, hemoglobin, white blood cell, and platelet count was reverted to the normal level in ALEE-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the ethanolic extract of A. lebbeck L. has a powerful antitumor activity because it was effective in significantly inhibiting the tumor growth in both in vivo and in vitro cancer cell lines.