Anti-tumour, anti-mutagenic and chemomodulatory potential of Chlorophytum borivilianum.

In the present investigation anti-tumour, anti-mutagenic and chemomodulatory potential of Chlorophytum borivilianum were evaluated. Chlorophytum borivilianum root extract had no toxic effect up to a dose of 800 mg/kg body weight/day. Significant increase (p<0.05 to p<0.001) in the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant decrease in the hepatic MDA level were observed at 100, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of Chlorophytum borivilianum root extract when compared with the control value. Skin papillomagenesis studies demonstrated a significant (p<0.001) decrease in cumulative numbers of papilloma, tumour incidence, tumour burden, tumour size and tumour weight and significant (p<0.01) increase in average latent period when the animals received Chlorophytum borivilianum root extract at a dose level of 800 mg/kg body weight/day orally in double distilled water at pre, peri and post initiation stages of carcinogenesis. A significant reduction in the frequency of chromosomal aberration and micronuclei was observed in the treated animals as compared to carcinogen controls. The present investigation suggests that Chlorophytum borivilianum has anti-tumour, anti-mutagenic and chemomodulatory effects.