Chemopreventive efficacy of Wedelia calendulaceae against 20-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in mice.

Present study reports the chemopreventive effect of methanol extract of Wedelia calendulaceae (MEWC) against 20-methylcholanthrene (20-MC) induced carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. MEWC was administered orally at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 90 consecutive days after 24h of single subcutaneous administration of 20-MC (200 μg) in mice and observed for 15 weeks to record tumor incidence (fibrosarcoma) and survival. After 15 weeks the mice were sacrificed for the estimation of hematological profiles and liver biochemical parameters viz. lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). MEWC treatment markedly reduced tumor incidence and prolonged life span of sarcoma bearing mice as compared to 20-MC control. Hematological profiles were significantly (p<0.001) restored to normal levels in MEWC treated mice. MEWC treatment significantly (p<0.001) modulated the aforesaid liver biochemical parameters as compared to 20-MC control. Therefore, W. calendulaceae possess remarkable chemopreventive efficacy in Swiss mice.