Study on Anticancer Activity of Ficus Benghalensis on Wistar Albino Rats Treated with Diethyl Nitrosamine

 

Ficus Benghalensis

Also known as banyan fig or Indian banyan, the banyan tree is an unusually shaped tree that belongs to the family of mulberry. The botanical name of banyan tree is Ficus benghalensis.

This tree does belong to the genus Ficus that comprises other species, like F. macrocarpa, F. pertusa, F. citrifolia, F. elastic, etc. Banyan tree acquires a height of 100 feet or 30 meters and spreads laterally open-endedly. The branches of this tree give rise to aerial roots that again take roots for becoming new trunks when they touch the soil. At times, a banyan tree assumes the look of a dense thicket due to the tangling of trunks and roots. 

Benefits of a Banyan Tree

Some remarkable benefits of a banyan tree for our health are as follows:

A banyan tree treats diarrhoea – People suffering from diarrhoea can take small budding leaves from the banyan tree to soak them in water. It forms a sturdy astringent agent which is excellent to heal gas, diarrhoea, irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, and dysentery.

Prevents gum disease and tooth decay – When you take aerial roots of a banyan tree and chew them, then they would prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bleeding gums. These roots work as a natural toothpaste besides helping bad breath. The aerial roots also make our teeth stronger. These roots have astringent and anti-bacterial properties that turn effectual against many oral health problems.

Improves immunity – Every person who has strong immunity leads a healthy life. Immunity helps people fight against various diseases. Additionally, it also shields people in other ways. The banyan tree's bark is an excellent immune-boosting agent.

Stops inflammation – Joint pain and arthritis are linked with joints' inflammation. It isn't only painful but does also limit people's daily movements. The banyan leaves' sap has anti-inflammatory features for fighting against some conditions, such as arthritis.

Treats infections of the vagina – Women suffer from vaginal infections because of the shortage of proper hygienic measures, and it happens as their vagina remains moist. In this condition, the leaves and bark of the banyan tree can treat infections of the vagina well. You can crush some dried leaves of banyan for making a tablespoon of powder. This powder should be boiled in one litre of water to let the water become half of the actual water. After you have cooled this infusion, you can apply it to your affected part.

Experimental design
A total of 36 animals were equally divided in to three groups (N=12 in each group).

Treatment Schedule
Single dose of FBE 200 µl/ Kg body weight was given to each rat of group II and group III. The
rats of group III were given plant extract 200mg/Kg body weight from day one for eight weeks.

Body weight of animals
Weekly body weight of all the experimental animals in different groups was taken till the end of the experiment. First day of the experiment was considered as zero day. At the end of experiment all the
animals were anaesthetized by sprinkling chloroform in a closed jar. The animals were kept in it for
1-2 minutes.

Distribution and details of the treatment
Groups

CONTROL :No Treatment 0.9%saline

NEGATIVE CONTROL: Diethyl nitrosamine (200 µl/ Kg body weight)

TEST: Diethyl nitrosamine (200 µl/ Kg body weight) + Herbal extract (200mg/Kg body weight)

Dissection and sample collection
After eight weeks of treatment all the rats were sacrificed. The anaesthetized animals were dissected from the ventral side. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture. A small part of liver and kidneys were preserved in 10% formalin solution for histopathological studies. The rest of the liver and kidneys were homogenized with chilled phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).

Tissue homogenate
Liver was cut in to small pieces and was homogenized in 25 ml of phosphate buffer by using glass homogenizer. The homogenate so obtained was centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 minutes.

Supernatant was collected for further tests. Same procedure was repeated for kidney.

Tissue
homogenate of liver and kidneys were prepared and subjected for assay of superoxide dismutase (SOD) by following the method of (Mishra and Fridouvich 1972), Catalase activity (CAT) by (Beers
and Seezers 1952), Protein by (Lowery et al., 1951), lipid peroxidation product-malonaldehyde (MDA) by (Ester bauer and Cheeseman 1993).

Serum Collection
The blood was collected after heart puncture and 1 ml was taken in tubes containing heparin (anti coagulant) and rest of the blood was kept in slant for clotting. Clotted blood.

Am. J. PharmTech Res. 2019; 9(01) ISSN: 2249-3387

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