Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity of Tamarix Indica Aerial Extracts against DMBA/croton Oil-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice.

BACKGROUND

The largest organ, skin, acts as the body's first line of protection against various environmental threats and harmful substances, which may be carcinogenic. The widespread acceptance of conventional chemotherapy has been hindered by its high cost and severe side effects, which have encouraged the need for alternatives. The phytoconstituents produced by plants promise to prevent skin carcinogenesis by targeting multiple steps. They are widely accepted, safe, and have few side effects.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to determine the antitumor potential of the aerial extracts of Tamarix indica in Swiss albino mice by DMBA/croton oil-induced carcinogenesis.

METHOD

The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The animals were randomly divided into 7 groups such as Group I, Normal Control, applied acetone; Group II, Disease Control, applied DMBA and croton oil; Group III, IV, V, and VI given methanol and aqueous extract in 250 and 500 mg/kg doses and Group VII, methotrexate in addition to Group II treatment. At the end of the study, tumor morphological and biochemical parameters were determined.

RESULTS

The DPPH free radical assay showed antioxidant activity of methanol and aqueous extract of T. indica having IC50 values of 7.98±0.87 and 14.49±1.01 µg/mL respectively. The results showed a decline in % tumor incidences, burden, and yield, while an increase in average latency period and % inhibition of tumor multiplicity in treatment groups compared to disease control group. Serum biochemical parameters i.e. total protein, LPO, SOD, catalase, GSH, SGOT, SGPT, creatinine, urea, and bilirubin were found to improve towards normal range in the treatment groups compared to disease control group mice.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that T. indica extracts have significant antioxidant and chemopreventive activity against DMBA/croton oil-induced carcinogenesis. However specific phytoconstituents and mechanisms of chemoprevention are further to be identified.