Effect of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract on transplanted tumours and chemical carcinogenesis in mice

Anti-tumour and anti-carcinogenic activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract we re studied in mice. Administration of 20-methylcholanthrene (20 MC) produce d 100% induction of sarcoma in control mice, whereas the tumour incidence a nd tumour related deaths were significantly inhibited by the oral administr ation of P. kurroa extract 150 and 750 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The extract was also found to reduce the volume of transplanted solid tumours induced by Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) tumour cell lines and increased the life span of ascites tumour bearing mice. P. kurroa extract inhibited y east topoisomerase I and II enzyme activity when tested on Saccharomyces ce revisiae mutant cell cultures. The extract did not inhibit the enzyme invol ved in the activation of carcinogen and the cell cycle regulatory enzyme cd c2 kinase. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.