• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2005

The plant Bryonia laciniosa (Family: Cucurbitaceae) has been indicated for the treatment of various diseases one among which is cancer. The purpose of this study was investigating experimentally the possible anti-tumor effect and antioxidant role of Bryonia laciniosa leaves in animal model. The methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa (MEBL) administered at the doses of 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg in mice for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. The effect of MEBL on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing mice, hematological profile and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were estimated. Treatment with MEBL decreased the tumor volume and viable cell count thereby increasing the life span of EAC bearing mice and brought back the hematological parameter more or less normal level. The effect of MEBL also decreases the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The present work indicates that the methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa exhibited significant antitumor and antioxidant activity in vivo.