Antioxidant and antitumor activities of Polyalthia simiarum (Buch.-Ham. ex Hook. F. & Thomson) Hook. F. & Thomson

Abstract

The present study has been designed to investigate the antioxidant and antitumor activities of ethyl acetate (EA) extract of stem bark of Polyalthia simiarum (Annonaceae). Antioxidant potential of the EA extract was evaluated in vitro by DPPH (1,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay method. The EA extract showed free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 24.08 ± 0.30 fig/mL. The antitumor activity of the extract was determined against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice at 25 mg/kg and 5Í) mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal. Significant (p<0.001) increase of survival time by 25 ± 0.57 and 27 ± 0.40 days by the EA extract treated tumor bearing mice was confirmed with respect to the control group (22 ± 0.12 days). Hematological studies revealed that the hemoglobin (Hb) content was decreased in EAC treated mice whereas restoration to close to normal levels was observed in extract treated animals. There was a significant (p<0.001) decrease in RBC and increase in WBC counts in extract treated animals when compared to EAC affected animals. Therefore, the EA extract of P. simiarum was capable to exhibit moderate antioxidant and antitumor activities. This is the first report of antioxidant and antitumor potential of P. simiarum.