N Sri Sainadh, Nagarathna PKM, Vasantha Kumar C, and SC Kulkarni
To study the antitumor effect of Kigelia africana. Antitumor activity of methanolic extracts of 100, 200 mg/kg of Kigelia Africana leaves was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor in mice. Acute and short-term toxicity studies were performed initially in order to ascertain the safety of methanolic extracts of Kigelia Africana. After 12 days of tumor inoculation, the extract was administered daily for 30 days. The effect of methanolic extracts of Kigelia Africana on the growth of tumor, life span of EAC bearing hosts and simultaneous alterations in the haematological profile and histopathological profile were estimated. The methanolic extracts of Kigelia africana showed decrease in tumor size, average body weight, mean survival time thereby increasing life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Haematological profile reverted to more or less normal levels in extracts treated mice. Histopathology has minimal effects when compared but a significant variation is seen.