Assessment of In-Vitro Cytotoxicity and In-Vivo Antitumor Activity of Syzygium aqueum

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of the ethanolic extract of
leaves of Syzygium aqueum (EESA) on K562 tumor cell line (chronic myeloid leukemia) and
transplantable tumor Dalton’s ascites lymphoma (DAL). In-vitro cytotoxicity on K562 tumor cell line
was evaluated using micro-culture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. In-vivo antitumor activity was studied on
DAL tumor bearing mice. Activity was assessed by monitoring the mean survival time, tumor cell
count, percentage increase in body weight and effect on haematological parameters like red blood cell
(RBC) count, haemoglobin content (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) count, Differential cell (DC) count.
Histopathological studies were also evaluated during this study. EESA exhibit potent in-
vitro cytotoxicity activity against K562 tumor cell line. The result also showed an increased life span
and decreased tumor cell count in S.aqueum treated animals. The hematological studies revealed that
the Hb count decreased in DAL bearing mice, whereas S.aqueum treated mice showed an increase in
the Hb or near to normal levels and other hematological parameters such as RBC, WBC was also
significantly reduced. Histopathalogical studies evaluated the destruction of tumor cells by showing
cell wall destruction, membrane blebbing, degradation, vacuolated cytoplasm. The results suggested
that the EESA exhibited cytotoxicity in dose dependent and it showed significant antitumor activity
on DAL bearing mice.