Antitumor activity of Moringa Oleifera leaf extract against Ehrlich solid tumor

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is promising plant for biomedicine applications because it has an impressive range of medicinal purposes with high nutritional value. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) on Ehrlich's solid tumor implanted mice (EST-mice). Swiss male albino mice were implanted intramuscularly with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Three doses of MOLE extract (125, 250 and 500mg kg -1 ) were administrated to EST-mice for 14 days. The standard drug vincristine (VCR) was i.p injected (0.1 mg kg 1) after the implantation of EST. The antitumor activity of MOLE was assessed using several tumor markers. Modulating activity of MOLE against EST was evaluated using comet assay, micronucleus test and morphological apoptotic changes as well as DNA fragmentation assay. The expression analysis of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apoptosis related genes (p53, p21 and bcl2) were evaluated. Treatment of EST-mice with the highest dose of MOLE exhibited inhibition of tumor growth and the tumor markers in solid tumor. MOLE inhibited the apoptotic/necrotic cells, decrease of micronucleus formation and DNA damage in EST-mice. Expression of iNOS, VEGF, p53 mutation, p21 and bcl2 genes in EST-mice were significantly over-expressed compared with control group. These observations were markedly inhibited with the highest dose of extract. Moringa oleifera leaf extract revealed antitumor, antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic activities in EST-mice. The biological activities of Moringa oleifera leaf extract were discussed.