Evaluation of Antiproliferative Activity of Trichosanthes dioica Root Against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells

Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), called pointed gourd in English is a dioeciously climber plant grown in India and used traditionally for various medicinal purposes. Present study evaluated antiproliferative effect of hydroalcoholic extract from T. dioica root (TDA) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in vitro. The cytotoxic activity of TDA (1 to 10 μg/ml) against EAC cells was assessed in vitro by trypan blue cell viability assay and MTT cell proliferation assay. TDA at all test concentrations exhibited significant (p < 0.001) increment in non-viable cells in trypan blue cell viability assay as compared to vehicle control; the percentage of non-viability increased up to a concentration of 4 μg/ml of TDA (48.45%), followed by decrease at higher concentrations. Similarly, in MTT cell proliferation assay, the percent cytotoxicity increased up to a concentration of 2 μg/ml of TDA (34.58%) followed by gradual decrease on increasing TDA concentrations. From the present study it can be concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract of T. dioica root demonstrated significant antiproliferative effect at lower concentrations against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vitro, thus suggesting the feasibility of its possible promise as natural anticancer agent.