PHARMACOLOGY OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN IN LIVER CANCER TREATMENT AND TOXICITY EVALUATION

Abstract

Cancer is among the major causes of death in the world. Spondias mombin is a natural product being accepted as medication for many diseases. This research aimed at evaluating the toxicity potential and pharmacology properties of Spondias mombin leaves in liver cancer treatment. Spondias mombin leaves were shade dried at room temperature and size reduced to powder and extracted using cold maceration. Phytochemical screening of the plant extract was conducted. Six weeks of healthy mice; weighing 22-25g were used. For acute toxicity studies, ten mice were grouped into a normal control group and another group received 2000mg/kg of the extract. The animals were observed closely for 14 days. Twenty-four mice were divided into 4 groups. One group served as control and received only saline at 10mls/kg and the other groups received one percent diethylnitrosamine (DEN) given via peritoneal injection to the mice weekly at a dose of 35mg/kg for six weeks. The remaining three groups received 250 mg/kg, 500 mg, and doxorubicin 2 mg/kg after four weeks of induction. The treatment commenced with the extract while still giving the DEN for cancer induction. The phytochemical analysis shows the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, phenolic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, and the absence of carbohydrates anthraquinones. Animals exposed to the extract and observed for 14 days exhibited no obvious sign of toxicity with zero mortality during the period of observation. There is a slight weight change among the control group between 20.8±3.56 to 25.63 2.60.The creatinine, CL, and HCO3 of the control significantly (P˂0.005) differed from the study groups. There was a slight increase in weight after the first dose, though a steady decrease was noticed following the second, third, and fourth doses of DEN in the mice. ALT and AST were higher in the extract-treated groups compared to both Dox-treated and saline-treated groups. The extract was shown to have no obvious physical sign of toxicity and it doesn’t cause mortality in all the tested animals. Ethanol extract of the plant reversed the loss in weight, deterioration in liver enzymes, and protein production to an extent similar to that of standard anti-cancer agents.