Abstract
Background: Natural products remain a cornerstone in anticancer drug discovery. Barleria prionitis (Family: Acanthaceae) is traditionally used for various inflammatory and infectious conditions and possesses significant phytochemical diversity.
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Barleria prionitis leaves against Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA)-induced tumor in mice.
Methods: DLA cells were inoculated intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice. The ethanolic extract of B. prionitis leaves was administered orally at selected doses for 14 consecutive days. Antitumor activity was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, packed cell volume, viable and non-viable tumor cell count, body weight changes, mean survival time (MST), and percentage increase in life span (ILS). Hematological, biochemical, and antioxidant parameters were analyzed.
Results: Treatment with the extract significantly reduced tumor volume, viable cell count, and body weight gain compared to tumor control (p < 0.05). A significant increase in MST and ILS was observed. Hematological parameters were restored toward normal values. Antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and catalase were modulated, and lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced.
Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Barleria prionitis leaves exhibits significant anticancer activity against DLA-induced lymphoma in mice, possibly mediated through antioxidant mechanisms, immune modulation, and apoptosis induction.