Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous extract on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in Swiss albino mice.

Summary: Securidaca longepedunculata is a savannah shrub found growing in tropical Africa. It is reputed to have more than a hundred medicinal uses and is a major component of anticancer decoctions in Nigeria. An attempt was made in this study to determine the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity and possible pro-apoptotic effect of Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous root bark extract on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. In vitro cytotoxic activity was determined using the Trypan blue assay by incubating Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells with various concentrations of Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous extract. In vivo study was carried out by intraperitoneal administration of varied doses of Securidaca longepedunculata to tumour-bearing mice. Isolated DNA from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in treated and untreated animals was used for DNA fragmentation assay on agarose gel. Securidaca longepedunculata Aqueous extract, Securidaca longepedunculata was cytotoxic to Ehrlich ascites both in vivo and in vitro. The IC50 of Securidaca longepedunculata was 67 μg/ml. Securidaca longepedunculata caused a decrease in angiogenesis as observed in the reduction in weight of treated animals and a reduction in volume of ascitic fluid in treated mice. DNA fragmentation assay of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells from treated animals depicted a possible pro-apoptotic effect of the Securidaca longepedunculata extract due to the ladder forming pattern which was comparable to that of the standard drug (fluorouracil). Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous extract had a cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effect on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Industrial relevance: The use of Securidaca longepedunculata in traditional medicine in the treatment and management of cancer has been brought to the fore. Development of herbal drugs from the crude extracts could be achieved due to findings suggesting the plant could increase life span in patients with advanced stages of cancer. Herbal supplements could be produce from the plants with low concentration of the extract. Chemotherapeutic applications of the plant also include its potential inclusion in drug development based on the pro-apoptotic potential of the plant. Keywords : Securidaca longepedunculata; cytotoxic; Ehrlich; antiproliferative; fluorouracil; mice.