Studies on Antitumor Activity of Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in Swiss Albino Mice

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antitumor effect of Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. (Family: Crassulaceae) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. The effect of methanol and aqueous extracts of Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. on tumor growth was studied by the following parameters: percentage inhibition of ascetic cells and percentage inhibition of tumor weight. Methanol and aqueous extracts were administered at doses of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg body weight intraperitonially once a day for 7 days, after 24h of tumor inoculation. Decrease in tumor cell count and tumor weight were observed in extract treated animals when compared to EAC treated animals. The results were dose dependent and promising in case of methanol extract. The results suggest that both the extracts of the stem of Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. exhibit significant antitumor effects in EAC bearing mice.