Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Activities of Nymphaea Lotus and 5-Fluorouracil on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Nymphaea lotus Linn (Nymphaeceae), an ubiquitious tropical water plant is a major component of herbal decoctions administered in rural Nigeria for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including cancers. However, the potency and mechanism of antiproliferative action of the plant extract against tumours are not yet established. This study was designed to investigate in vivo and in vitro the anti-tumour potency of ethanol extract of Nymphaea lotus (NLE) in comparison with 5-fluorouracil (Standard anti-tumour drug) in EAC-treated Swiss albino mice. 20 acclimatized adult male Swiss albino mice were inoculated with 106 EAC cells/mouse intraperitoneally and randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 mice/group. Group I served as negative control (EAC only), groups II and III received intraperitoneal injections of 20 and 40 mg/kg bodyweight NLE for 14 days while Group IV received 20 mg/kg fluorouracil. A fifth group of 5 mice served as the baseline control and was administered only 0.9% NaCl (Physiological saline). Tumour development was evaluated by determining the weight gain, ascitic weight gain and volume. MST and percentage ILS were also determined. DNA was extracted from EAC cells from treated animals and subjected to DNA fragmentation assay via electrophoresis. Intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg bodyweight NLE significantly reduced the ascetic fluid volume, induced morphological changes, decreased the viability of the ascitic cells and also caused a prolongation of the lifespan of animals. Nymphaea lotus elicited similar pattern of responses to 5-fluorouracil which are characteristic of apoptosis.