Antitumor and antioxidant activity of Diospyros peregrina against Dalton’s ascites lymphoma in rodents

The methanol extract of Diospyros peregrina (Ebenaceae) bark (MEDP) were evaluated for antitumor activity and antioxidant activity against Dalton’s ascites lymphoma (DAL)-bearing swiss albino mice. The extract was administered at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight per day for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. After the last dose and 18 h fasting, the mice were sacrificed. The present study deals with the effect of MEDP on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of DAL-bearing hosts, hematological profile, biochemical and antioxidant profile. MEDP caused significant decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume, and viable cell count; and it prolonged the life span of DAL-tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile converted to more or less normal levels in extract-treated mice. The lipidperoxidation was increased in tumor bearing animals, after treatment with MEDP antioxidant levels increased significantly. The results indicate that MEDP exhibited significant antitumor activity in DAL-bearing mice.