Antitumor activity and antioxidant role of Streblus asper bark against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice.

The present study assessed the methanol extract of Streblus asper stem bark (MESA) for antitumor effect and antioxidant influence against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. Twenty four hours after intraperitonial inoculation of tumor (EAC) cells in mice, MESA was administered at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight daily for 9 consecutive days. On the 10 th day, half of the mice were sacrificed for estimation of tumor parameters, haematological, liver and kidney antioxidant parameters; and the rest were kept alive for assessment of survival. MESA exhibited dose dependent and significant (p < 0.01) decrease in tumor proliferation and extended the life span of EAC bearing mice. Hematological profiles were significantly (p < 0.01) restored near to normal in MESA treated mice as compared to EAC control. MESA treatment significantly (p < 0.01) modulated the hepatic and renal antioxidant parameters as compared to EAC control. The present study demonstrated that S. asper bark possessed promising antitumor efficacy in mice, plausibly mediated by amelioration of oxidative stress by multiple mechanisms.