Anotace:
Cancer, a complex and profound ailment, needs new treatment ideas to address its pervasive worldwide implications. Within this context, Manilkara kauki, a relatively unexplored tropical botanical plant, emerges as a reservoir of significant potential due to its inherent bioactive properties. Its traditional uses and preliminary investigations suggest it might open up a new path in cancer treatment. The present study investigated the promising antitumor activity of the ethanolic extract of Manilkara kauki (EEMK) by undertaking an integrated investigation via in vitro and in vivo assessments. The cytotoxic effect of EEMK was meticulously evaluated by 2 discrete assays, namely Trypan Blue and MTT at doses of 50,100,200,400 and 800 µg/ml, and apoptosis induction on EAC cells was studied by DAPI staining at dose IC50 value ~265 µg/ml. Further antitumor activity was tested at 200 and 400 mg/kg in Erlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice. The outcomes from both cytotoxic assays consistently revealed a concentration-dependent decline in cell viability, as discerned from IC50 values ~265 µg/ml and ~276 µg/ml respectively. DAPI staining confirmed the apoptosis induction in EAC cells. Transitioning to an in vivo milieu, EEMK demonstrated pronounced antitumor efficacy in mice bearing experimentally induced tumors by substantial reductions in tumor volume, and tumor weight, alongside a commendable extension in mean survival time and bringing back the hematological parameters to normal. Furthermore, EEMK exhibited hepatoprotective attributes, effectively mitigating SGPT and SGOT levels. These findings serve as a pivotal cornerstone in unraveling the multifaceted mechanisms underlying EEMK's interventions within cancer management.