Chemopreventive Action of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) Hydromethanolic Extract on DMBA- Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino Mice

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Brahmi) (Family: Scrophulariaceae), has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. In the present study, Cancer Chemopreventive property of B. monnieri was evaluated on 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin papillomagenesis in male Swiss albino mice (6-7 weeks old). A single topical application of 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (104 μg/100 μl of acetone), followed 2 weeks later by repeated application of croton oil (1% in 100 μl acetone two times in a week) and continued till the end of the experiment (After 16 weeks) exhibited 100% tumor incidence. In contrast, mice topically treated on the shaven dorsal side with the Bacopa monnieri Hydromethanolic extract (BMH) (dose 120 mg/kg body wt.) & (dose 240mg/kg body wt.) at one hour before each application of 1% Croton oil two times in a week., a significant reduction in the values of tumor incidence, average number of tumors per tumor bearing mouse and papillomas per papilloma bearing mouse were observed. Thus results showed that BMH possesses a Chemopreventive activity and provide evidences for its traditional usage in clinical studies.