Administration of an extract from the root of the plant Withania somnifera
(20mg/dose/animal i.p) was found to inhibit the 20-methylcholanthrene induc
ed sarcoma development in mice and increase the life span of tumour bearing
animals. Administration of Withania could inhibit the lipid peroxide forma
tion (152 nanomoles/mg protein) (P<0.01) compared with control (198 nanomol
es/mg protein). Withania could increase the GSH level (7.7 mu moles/mg prot
ein) which was lowered in control tumour bearing animals (3.96 mu moles/mg
protein). GST level was also significantly increased (451 mu moles/min/mg p
rotein) (P<0.001) in Withania treated animals compared to control animals (
205 mu moles/min/ mg protein). All the animals in the control group develop
ed sarcoma by the 80th day of carcinogen administration. Only 3 animals in
the Withania treated group developed sarcoma by the 105th day. In control a
nimals the survival rate was 40% but in the Withania treated group the surv
ival rate was 100% after 15 weeks of carcinogen treatment. These results in
dicate that Withania could inhibit 20-methylcholanthrene induced sarcoma de
velopment in mice.