• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2007

The present study investigated the anti-tumor activity of ethyl acetate extract of Acanthospermum hispidum DC against daltons ascites lymphoma in mice. The extract was prepared by cold maceration with ethyl acetate for 3 - 7 days and evaporated in vacuum to dry. (Yield : 14.2 g, 1.42% w/w). The extract was fractionated by column chromatography by using gradient elution technique and the diterpenes fraction isolated (0.649 g). Both extract and the fraction were administered as oral suspension with tween 20 in water to tumor bearing mice (DAL) and changes in dead cell count, histopathology of tumor cells, hematological parameters and median survival time (MST) were examined and compared with that of tumor control or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The results indicate that both ethyl acetate extract and fraction possess anti-tumor activity. The study suggests that Acanthospermum hispidum DC seems promising as a source of diterpenes for potential anti-tumor activity.