Antitumour activity of Emblica officinalis

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.