Anti-Tumor Effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem) on Murine Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma

Tumor growth can cause antioxidant disturbances in certain tissues of the tumor host. So, we examined the antioxidant system as a possible mechanism through which Neem leaves preparation (NLP) exerts its oncostatic potential. Female Swiss Albino mice were inoculated intramuscularly in the right thigh with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. NLP (500 mg/kg body weight) was injected for 20 days intraperitoneally into mice beginning on day 5 of post-EAC cell inoculation. Tumor growth, lipid peroxidation (LPx), glutathione (GSH) contents and the activity of the antioxidant scavenger enzymes were examined. Results indicated that NLP efficiently suppressed the growth of tumors which was associated with normalization of the LPx levels and augmentation of GSH contents. NLP enhanced the activity of the endogenous antioxidant scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver and tumor tissue. The effect of NLP was more pronounced when treated as early as day 5 of post-tumor cell inoculation. In conclusion, NLP induced oncostatic activity by modulating lipid peroxidation, augmenting the antioxidant defense system and protecting against oxidative stress.