PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF THE TREATMENT OF SWISS-A MICE WITH DIOSPYRIN, A TUMOR-INHIBITORY PLANT PRODUCT, AND ITS SYNTHETIC DERIVATIVES

Diospyrin, a bisnaphthoquinonoid plant product and its derivatives hav e shown significant inhibitory activities against murine tumours in vi vo, Studies on the haematological status, serum protein and creatinine levels, activities of several serum glycolytic enzymes, and histopath ology of the mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma were carri ed out after treatment with diospyrin and four synthetic derivatives, The prognostic significance of the pharmacological parameters acting a s markers of the diseased state was evident from these findings, Norma l mice were also studied before and after treatment with these compoun ds which did not cause noticeable adverse effects on the vital paramet ers, thereby indicating the possibility of the utilization of diospyri n and derivatives as appropriate therapeutic agents.