Assessment of Anticarcinogenic Potential of Vitex trifolia and Triticum aestivum Linn by In Vitro Rat Liver Microsomal Degranulation

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this preliminary study is to confirm the synergistic anticarcinogenic potential of Vitex trifolia and Triticum aestivum ethanolic extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat hepatic microsomal degranulation is a short - term technique that has been used for the detection of potential chemical carcinogens, in vitro. The present study has been carried out to study the inhibition of ribosome- membrane disruption against 3, 8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-pheylphenanthridinium bromide (EB), as the degranulating agent, by measuring the RNA/protein ratios of microsomal membranes in the presence or absence of V.trifolia and T. aestivum extracts. These two extracts were further evaluated for cytotoxic effect in HCT 116 and A549 cell lines. RESULTS: V. trifolia and T. aestivum protects hepatic microsomes against the degranulatory attack by the carcinogen EB showed a significant reduction in the proliferation of the HCT 116 and A549 cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: The ethanolic extracts of the plants, V. trifolia and T. aestivum individually possessed anti-degranulatory potential. Importantly they act synergistically, possess appreciable anticarcinogenic properties, based on their ability to inhibit EB induced liver microsomal degranulation. Further these extracts inhibit cell proliferation of cancer cell lines.