EFFECT OF SOBATUM ON TUMOR-DEVELOPMENT AND CHEMICALLY-INDUCED CARCINOGENESIS

The partially purified component of Solanum trilobatum named Sobatum w as obtained from the petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (75:25) extractable portion. It was found to be cytotoxic in Dalton's Lymphoma ascites (D LA), Ehrlich ascites (EA) cell lines and tissue culture cells (L929 an d Vero). Sobatum significantly inhibited peritoneal rumours induced by DLA and EA tumour cells. Sobatum was also found to reduce solid tumou r growth in mice, when given either simultaneously or prophylactically , and is more active in simultaneous administration (EA). It was found that Sobatum was more active against EA cells-induced solid tumour th an DLA-induced solid rumours. On exposure to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthr acene (DMBA), about 85.67% animals had induced skin carcinogenesis, wh ich was significantly inhibited to 44.4% by the application of Sobatum . It can be concluded that the Sobatum has the ability to retard the d evelopment of solid rumours and DMBA-induced carcinogenesis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.