IN VIVO ANTITUMOR, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND TOXICITY PROFILE OF ETHYL ACETATE CRUDE LEAF EXTRACT OF PARKINSONIA ACULEATA L. (FABACEAE) ON B16F10 MELANOMA

The present study evaluates the effect of ethyl acetate crude leaf extract of Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Fabaceae) on B16F10 mice melanoma. Crude extract was tested for Acute Oral Toxicity and Sub acute toxicity studies. The crude extract was then taken for in vivo antitumor study on B16F10 melanoma induced BALB/c mice. M elanoma was i nduced s.c. using B16F10 cell suspension of 5 x 10 5 cells/animal in 18 animals randomized into Group 1 as positive control (Vehicle), Group 2 treated with 100 mg/ kg bwt. and Group 3 treated with 300 mg/ kg bwt. extract. During the treatment the size of im planted tumors were measured and tumor volume calculated. Sub acute toxicity studies showed that the extract does not possess any cytotoxicity and treatment with crude extract reduced the tumor growth in a dose and time dependent manner. P values of < 0.05 were considered significant for N = 6. The ethyl acetate crude leaf extract contain the active principles that mediate the anticancer property. The active components that mediate the biological propert y may be majorly flavonoids viz. apigenin, vitexin, is o - vitexin, orientin, iso - orientin and chrysoeriol. Further work is needed to ascertain the mechanism of actions of these flavonoids. The study also provides the safety profile and dosage of the crude leaf extract. Thus the plant’s leaves could be good sour ce of natural and potent