Antitumor and cytotoxic activities of methanol extract of Indigofera linnaei Ali.

Methanol extract of Indigofera linnaei (MEIL) was investigated for antitumor, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities against transplantable tumors and human cancer cell lines. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in HeLa, Hep-2, HepG-2, MCF-7, HT-29, Vero and NIH 3T3 cells by MTT assay and in vivo antitumor activity with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and Dalton's ascites lymphoma (DLA) tumor-bearing mice. Activity was measured by monitoring the mean survival time, effect on hematological parameters, antioxidant enzyme levels and solid tumor volume. The extract exhibited strong in vitro cytotoxicity against all the tested cancer cell lines, but it was found to be safe with normal cells. MEIL at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, significantly increase the mean survival time (P<0.001), exerted a protective effect on the hemopoietic system, demonstrated in vivo antioxidant activity and significantly reduce solid tumor volume (P<0.01). These results show a significant antitumor and cytotoxic effect of MEIL against EAC, DLA and human cancer cell lines and support the ethnomedical use of Indigofera linnaei.