Antioxidant Activity of Asteracantha Longifolia in Dmba Induced Mammary Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats

Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus providing protection to human against infections and degenerative diseases. Current research is directed towards natural antioxidants originated from plants due to safe therapeutics. Asteracantha longifolia (Family-Acanthaceae), commonly known as ‘Hygrophila’ being used as folklore medicine. Plant has been reported to posses in vitro antioxidant activity and anticancer in nature. Hence the present study was evaluated for antioxidant activity of petroleum ether extract of A. longifolia by chemically inducing mammary tumor using 7, 12-Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) in Sprague Dawley rats. Test groups were treated with A. longifolia extract @ 600, 900 and 1200 mg/kg and the antioxidant activity is compared with the group of rats administered with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) @ 200mg/kg body weight for 45 days. Mammary tumor, liver and kidney tissue were processed for antioxidant enzyme assay. The antioxidant activity were correlating with increased dose of plant extract, the data obtained in present study suggests that the extract of A. longifolia have potent antioxidant activity and prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules and afford significant protection against oxidative damage seen in cancer.