ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF SOLANUM JASMINOIDES

ABSTRACT: Objective: To investigate the anticancer potential of the extracts and the alkaloidal and non alkaloidal fractions of Solanum jasminoides Paxt using in vitro and in vivo models. Method: The petroleum ether, methanol and water extracts of the whole plant was prepared by successive soxhlet method. The methanol extract was treated with solvents to separate alkaloidal and non alkaloidal fractions. All the samples were subjected to in vitro anticancer studies using Vero, BRL-3, HEp-2, HeLa, MDCK and A-549 cell lines. Based on the in vitro results, the alkaloidal fraction was selected and subjected to in vivo anticancer activity against DLA and EAC induced ascities in mice. Results: The results reveal that the extracts and the fractions show moderate to good in vitro anticancer activity and the alkaloidal fraction shows superior activity. In the in vivo study the alkaloidal fraction shows a dose dependent effect on changes in the body weight, mortality and clinical symptoms induced by cancer cells. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that the alkaloida