Poster Presenter

In Vitro Anti-Tumour Activity Of Carmona Retusa
Govindappa Melappa, Chandrappa CP and P. Sharanappa
India

Introduction: Cancer is a very important national health problem in the world and the use of traditional plant products as chemo-preventative or chemotherapeutic agents. Scientist reported that mode of action of plant extract may be building blocks for organic synthesis, effect on oncoprotein expression etc (Chomcheon et al., 2006; Taechowisan et al., 2007). However, the literature survey indicates that, no antitumour activity was reports on extracts of Carmona retusa. Hence, the present investigation was aimed to evaluation of crude extract isolated by using different solvents for antitumour activity.

Carmona retusa is a popular ornamental plant cultivated in Hawai'i as a hedge or specimen plant. In the Philippines, the leaves are used medicinally to treat colic, cough, diarrhea, and dysentery (Philippine Medical Plants 2001). Carmona can also be obtained in the form of tablets and tea bags.
Hypothesis: To identify and selection of medicinal plants having anticancer agents. Collected plant samples subjected to isolate bioactive compound by using different solvents at different concentrations. Isolated compounds will be evaluated for anticancer efficacy.

Materials and methods: Survey has been conducted in various parts of Karnataka to collect the plant Carmona retusa. The leaves of plant collected were air dried under laboratory condition and powdered. To extract anticancer agents, 20gms of powder was taken in a thimble along with Chloroform: Hexane (1:1), Hexane: Carbon tetra chloride (1:1) and Hexane: Carbon tetra chloride: Ethyl acetate (1:1:1) separately in Soxhlet extractor. The excess solvents were removed by simple distillation process.
In vitro cytotoxicity: 100 mg of extract of three samples were dissolved in 10 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide separately and stock solutions were diluted with phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.2).The short-term in vitro cytotoxic studies were carried out using Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells aspirated from the intraperitonial cavity of Swiss albino mice. Suspe nsion containing approximately 1 x 106 cells was taken in each tube containing different concentration of extracts and the volume was made up to 1 ml with phosphate buffered saline. All the tubes were incubated at 370C? for 3 h. The percentage of dead cells was determined by using trypan blue exclusion method.

In Vivo Studies: Extracts were prepared using Chloroform: Hexane (1:1), Ethyl acetate: Chloroform (1:1), Hexane: Carbon tetra chloride: Ethyl acetate (1:1:1) separately for i.p injection by re-suspending them in 0.1% Tween 80. Experimental animals were prepared by injecting 1x106 cells of EAC into the intraperitonial cavity of female Swiss albino mice. Treatment was started 24 h. after the tumor transplantation. Hexane: carbon tetra chloride and hexane: carbon tetra chloride: ethyl acetate extract was administered at doses 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, i.p once daily for 10 days. All the control groups received 0.1% Tween 80 in normal saline. The tumor response was assessed on the basis of median survival time (MST) and % increase in life span (% ILS).

Results and Discussion: Carmona retusa leaves were subjected to extract compounds by using mixture solvents such as Chloroform: Hexane (1:1), Ethyl acetate: Chloroform (1:1), Hexane: Carbon tetra chloride: Ethyl acetate (1:1:1) separately. The fifth and second extract has shown comparatively highest anticancer property than first extract.
Conclusion: The fifth and second extracts from Carmona retusa were tested for anticancer property and results clearly shows that the Carmona retusa plant can be used as anticancer agent.