Antitumor activity of ethanol extract of Gracilaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice 1. Meenakshi Sundaram (Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamilnadu, India ) 2. Satyajit Patra (School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA ) 3. Gunasingham Maniarasu (Department of Biotechnology, Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College, Trichy 620005, Tamilnadu, India )
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate antitumor activity of Gracilaria edulis in Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC).
METHODS: Tumors were induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of EAC cells. Ethanol extract of Gracilaria edulis (EEGE) was administered to the experimental animals in different doses after 24 h of tumor inoculation. The antitumor effect of the EEGE was evaluated by assessing in vitro cytotoxicity, survival time, biochemical parameters and hepatic enzyme levels.
RESULTS: EEGE increased the life span of EAC-bearing mice compared with that of the model control mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EEGE treatment also converted the changes of biochemical parameters and hepatic enzyme levels in the EAC-bearing mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EEGE induced inhibition of tumor formation in EAC-bearing mice compared with that of the model control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSION:The present study scientifically proved the antitumor activity of marine algae G. edulis and the effect can be correlated with doses.
Source : Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine: Volume 10 April, 2012 Number 4 Link to Full Article