Evaluation of the Antineoplastic Activity of Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Mice

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a major treatment modality for cancer and some of the plants like Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, P. emodii, Taxus brevifolia, Ochrosia elliptica and Campototheca acuminata, have provided active principles which are in clinical use for controlling advanced stages of malignancies.1) However, most of these chemotherapeutic agents exhibit severe normal toxicity, resulting in undesirable side effects. Moreover, many of the active molecules sold for the treatment of cancer, are highly expensive, mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic. Hence, there is a need to find alternative drugs, which are highly effective at non-toxic doses, inexpensive and accessible to common man. A need is therefore felt to search newer remedies, which are cheaper economically and do not have severe side effects of the pure compounds.Medicines derived from plants have played a pivotal role in health care of ancient and modern cultures. Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine mainly uses plant based drugs or formulations to treat various ailments including cancer. Recent surveys suggest that one in three Americans uses dietary supplements daily and the rate of usage is much higher in cancer patients, which may be up to 50% of patients treated in cancer centers. 2)Tinospora cordifolia (WILLD.) MIERS ex HOOK. F. & THOMS is a large, glabrous, deciduous climbing shrub belonging to the family Menispermaceae.3,4) It is distributed throughout tropical Indian subcontinent and China, ascending to an altitude of 300 m. The plant is commonly known as Guduchi, Giloy or Amritha, which are Hindu mythological terms that refer to the heavenly elixir that have saved celestial beings from old age and kept them eternally young. Guduchi is widely used in veterinary folk medicine and Ayurvedic system of medicine for its general tonic, antiperiodic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, anti-allergic and antidiabetic properties.5-7) The whole plant is used in Ayurvedic "Rasayanas" to improve the immune system and the body resistance against infections and root is known for its antistress, anti-leprotic and anti-malarial activities. 7,8) Guduchi has been reported to be active against throat cancer in man and it has been reported to be non-toxic in acute toxicity studies in vivo, with almost no side effects. [9][10][11] A variety of constituents have been isolated from T. cordifolia and their structures elucidated. They belong to different classes such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoid, phenolics, aliphatic compounds and polysaccharides. Leaves of T. cordifolia are rich in protein (11.2%) and are fairly rich in calcium and phosphorus.7,12) Alkaloids like berberine, palmatine, tembetarine and magnoflorine have been isolated from the stem of T. cordifolia. The roots of T. cordifolia are also reported to contain other alkaloids like choline, tinosporin, isocolumbin, palmatine, tetrahydropalmatine and magnoflorine.13-18) Our preliminary studies on the stem extracts of T. cordifolia have shown...

Assessment of the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor activity of the alcoholic stem bark extract/fractions of Mimusops elengi Linn.

“…Tumor induction and propagation were carried out according to the method described previously (Jagetia and Rao 2006). The viable EAC cells (2.5 9 10 6 cells/mouse, i.p.)…”

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“…Plant derived compounds constitute a large segment of chemotherapeutic agents and compounds in current use 1 . Despite the evolution of new approaches for discovery, such as combinatorial chemistry and computer based molecular modeling, natural product based approach continues to be one of the productive strategies 2 . Plant latex has been identified as a major source of bioactive prototypes of pharmaceuticals and pesticides 3,4 .…”

Effect of Botanical Immunomodulators on Human CYP3A4 Inhibition

“…15,16 Various in vitro and in vivo studies on protoberberine alkaloids, especially berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine, have suggested their potential as adjuvants in chemotherapy. 17 Other botanicals rich with these alkaloids include Berberis aristata, Berberis wilsoniae, and Thalictrum javanicum.…”