Aqueous extract of Emblica officinalis (E.O) was found to be cytotoxic to L
929 cells in culture in a dose dependent manner. Concentration needed for
50% inhibition was found to be 16.5 mug/ml. E.O and chyavanaprash (a non-to
xic herbal preparation containing 50% E.O) extracts were found to reduce as
cites and solid tumours in mice induced by DLA cells. Animals treated with
1.25 g/kg b.wt. of E.O extract increased life span of tumour bearing animal
s (20%,) while animals treated with 2.5 g/kg b.wt, of chyavanaprash produce
d 60.9% increased in the life span. Both E.O and chyavanaprash significantl
y reduced the solid tumours. Tumour volume of control animals on 30th day w
as 4.6 ml where as animals treated with 1.25 g/kg b.wt. of E.O extract and
2.5 g/kg b.wt. of chyavanaprash showed a tumour volume of 1.75 and 0.75 ml,
respectively. E.O extract was found to inhibit cell cycle regulating enzym
es cdc 25 phosphatase in a dose dependent manner. Concentration needed for
50% inhibition of cdc 25 phosphatase was found to be 5 mug/ml and that need
ed for inhibition of cdc2 kinase was found to be > 100 mug/ml. The results
suggest that antitumour activity of E.O extract may partially be due to its
interaction with cell cycle regulation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland
Ltd. All rights reserved.