THE CURATIVE POTENTIAL OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS

ABSTRACT

Herbs have always formed an integral part of human health and are used in the treatment of several human diseases. One of such species which have a wide patronage is Phyllanthus amarus. P.amarus is traditionally used for various infections, inflammation and cancer. 1, 2 Dimethylhydrazine is a potent colorectal cancer inducer in animals. The present study investigated the effects of 350mg/kg body weight Ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus on 1, 2 Dimethylhydrazine induced colorectal cancer in Swiss Albino mice. 15 male Swiss albino mice of weight 17-30 g were acclimatized for a week and randomized into 3 groups (5 per group). Group A (-DMH), Group B (+DMH), Group C (DMH+350 mg/kg body weight of ethanol ext. of P. amarus). 20 mg/kg body weight of DMH was administered orally (24 doses, 3 times a week for 2 months). The plant extracts were administered daily for 2 weeks (14days) with the aid of a galvage immediately after colon cancer induction. In this study, the antioxidant parameters e.g, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPX of control were significantly different at P<0.05 from the untreated group(group B) as seen in the results( SOD: 0.500.092 u/mg wet tissue, CAT: 1.190.268 u/mg wet tissue, GSH: 2.411.343 µM GSH/g, GPx: 0.0050.002u/mg wet tissue). But there was no significant difference at P> 0.05 when the control group (SOD: 2.1560.64 u/mg wet tissue, CAT: 11.660.78 u/mg wet tissue, GSH: 1.230.087 µM GSH/g, GPx: 0.037 0.014u/mg wet tissue) was compared to treated group (SOD: 1.0710.022 u/mg wet tissue, CAT: 3.321.086u/mg wet tissue, GSH: 1.130.10µM GSH/g, GPX: 0.050.0038 u/mg wet tissue). For liver function test, there was significant difference between the control (168.9624.57IU/L), treated (137.353.078IU/L) and untreated group (156.5611.68IU/L) for ALT activity in the liver homogenate, but there was no significant difference at p>0.05 for AST across all groups (group A: 25.60.58IU/L group B: 29.10.679 group C: 32.592.91IU/L). For kidney function test, the concentration of Na+ was significantly increased for treated group (219.097.950mmol) at P<0.05 when compared to control (114.515.79mmol) and DMH group (208.0225.4mmol). While K+ in control group (2.6560.158mmol) there was no significant difference from treated (2.7480.203mmol) at P>0.05. But there was significant difference at P<0.05 when compared to untreated group (3.240.504mmol). For Bicarbonate ion, there was no observed significant difference at P>0.05 for control group (4.1170.08mmol) when compared to treated group (3.4670.033mmol) and untreated group (3.620.937mmol). For creatinine concentration there was no observed significant difference at P>0.05 for the control group (2.130.36mg/dL) when compared to treated group (1.590.19mg/dL) and untreated group (1.8030.2) and urea concentration there was significant difference between control group (0.7170.037mg/dL) when compared to treated group (1.3550.189mg/dL) and untreated (1.750.75mg/dL). Also, the effect of the plant extract was seen in the weights of the animals. There was significant decrease in the weight of untreated (initial wt. 23.83 1.40mg, final wt.21.001.16mg) when compared to control (initial wt. 25.171.30mg, final wt. 27.201.51mg) and treated (initial wt. 21.831.97mg, final wt. 20.002.26mg). For Caspase 9 there was no observed significant difference at P<0.05 between control (2.76650.633ng/ml), treated (2.5050.279ng/ml) and untreated (2.5860.128ng/ml). For interleukin there was no observed significant difference at P<0.05 between the control group (7.4341.353pg/ml) when compared to treated group (6.770.116pg/ml) but there was a slight significant difference between control (7.4341.353) when compared to untreated (6.3350.549pg/ml). In conclusion, the results obtained showed that ix administration of 350mg/kg body weight Ethanol plant extract has some ameliorating potentials against the carcinogenic effects of DMH induced colon carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.