Assessment of anticarcinogenic potential of Tinospora cordifolia leaves extract on DMBA prompted squamous cell carcinoma in mice

The present study was planned to assess the effect of Tinospora cordifolia leaves ethanolic extract against DMBA-induced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in mice. In this experiment, fifty six Swiss albino mice were divided into seven groups, each group comprising eight mice. SCC was induced in all groups except the vehicle control group (one) by application of DMBA twice a week for eight weeks, at 25 ug/ in 0.1ml acetone on the shaved back area of Swiss albino mice. Group one was kept as vehicle control with only a topical application of acetone 0.1ml. In group two (SCC control), mice were topically applied with 25 ug DMBA in 0.1 ml acetone on the shaved back area. Group three was standard drug control with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) topical applications on SCC lesions after induction of SCC by DMBA. Groups four, five, and six received treatments of Tinospora cordifolia leaves extract at 300 mg, 500 mg, and 700 mg/ per Kg body weight oral after induction of SCC, respectively. Group seven received a combination treatment of 5-FU topical applications on SCC lesions and Tinospora cordifolia extract at 500 mg/ Kg body orally. Gross and histopathological lesions confirmed the development of SCC. The present study showed a good effect of Tinospora cordifolia leaves ethanolic extract against SCC skin lesions in a dose-dependent manner.