Cytotoxic and antitumor effects of Tribulus terrestris L fruit methanolic extract

Abstract

Tribulus terrestris L. (Family: Zygophyllaceae) has been used extensively for various human ailments by different traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda. Recently, the anti-proliferative effect of this plant against breast cancer cells was reported. In the present study, the cytotoxic and antitumour effects of the methanolic extract of T. terrestris fruits were analysed. On in vitro cytotoxicity analysis, the extract showed 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 380 and 420 µg/ml, for Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich’s Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells, respectively. The ascites tumor induced by EAC cells was found to be decreased considerably by the oral administration of the extract and the life span of the tumour bearing mice was enhanced to 31 and 45% by 100 and 250 mg/kg b. wt. extract, respectively.