EVALUATION OF THE GENOTOXIC, CYTOTOXIC, AND ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES OF COMMIPHORA MOLMOL USING NORMAL AND EHRLICH ASCITES-CARCINOMA CELL-BEARING SWISS ALBINO MICE

The genotoxic, cytotoxic and antitumor properties of Commiphora molmol (oleo gum resin) were studied in normal and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice. In normal mice, the genotoxic and cytotoxic activi ty was evaluated on the bases of the frequency of micronuclei and the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic cells in bone marrow, which w as substantiated by the biochemical changes in hepatic cells. The anti tumor activity of C. molmol was evaluated from the total count and via bility of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and their nucleic acid, prot ein, malondialdehyde, and elemental concentrations in addition to obse rvations on survival and the trend of changes in body weight. The tumo rs at the site of injection were evaluated for histopathological chang es. Treatment with C. molmol (125-500 mg/kg) showed no clastogenicity but was found to be highly cytotoxic in normal mice. The results obtai ned in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell-bearing mice revealed the cy totoxic and antitumor activity of C. molmol which was found to be equi valent to those of the standard cytotoxic drug cyclophosphamide. On th e basis of the nonmutagenic, antioxidative, and cytotoxic potential of C. molmol as observed in the present study, its use in cancer therapy seems to be appropriate and further investigations are suggested.