Abstract

SCREENING OF BEETROOT JUICE FOR ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

*Meera Sumanth and Mehrzad Shayeghi

Abstract

estimating antioxidant potential by DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging assay, followed by effect on cell proliferation by MTT assay, tumor volume, survival time, change in body weight, hematological parameters and antioxidant enzyme in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma induced mice. Method: Antioxidant activity was determined, by measuring the reducing power of juice of Beta vulgaris by spectrometric DPPH scavenging assay followed by Nitric oxide scavenging activity using sodium nitroprusside as a NO donor. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Swiss albino mice of 20±5 g of either sex were used for in vivo study. Animals were divided into 5 groups (n=12). Experimental tumor was induced by inoculation of 1x106 Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell. Group-I (control) animals received vehicle, Group II was EAC control, Group III received 5-fluorouracil (20 mg/kg b.w,i.p.), Group IV, V received Beta vulgaris (200 and,400 ml/kg b.w.p,o), for 9 days. Post 9th day treatment, 6 mice were sacrificed, hematological parameters and antioxidant enzymes were estimated, remaining were utilized for analysis of body weight, survival time, tumor volume. RESULTS: Beta vulgaris showed DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging activity, cytotoxic activity on EAC cell lineand reduced body weight, tumor volume and increased survival time, decreased WBC count, increased RBC count, Hb content and antioxidant enzymes. CONCLUSION: Beta vulgaris exhibit significant anticancer activity.

Keywords: Beetroot, Antitumor activity, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.