Cytotoxic and anti -tumour properties of ethanolic extract of bacopa monnieri (L) penn.

Bacopa Monnieri (L) penn. Belongs to the family scrophulariaceae is commonly used in Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat various disease. The present stud examines the anti-tumous effect of ethanolic extract of whole plant bacopa monnieri (L) (EEMB) by in vitro short term chemosensitivity and in vivo tumous model test systems. EEBM dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of transformed cell lines significantly. Fifty percent dose on 3 hour exposure to EEBM was 150 μg/ml for Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour cells (Dla). Oral administration of the EEBM retarded the development of solid tumour and restored the altered hematological parameters near to normal.