ascites tumour. However, the concentration needed to
reduce the tumour was high as compared with the
extracts with tumour reducing activity (Kuttan et al.,
1990). Similarly concentration needed for reduction in
solid tumour size produced by Dalton’s lymphoma on
Ehrlich ascites tumour was higher compared with
other therapeutically useful herbal extracts. The extract
produced significant inhibition of topoisomerase
II activity, but not topoisomerase I activity. Similarly
the extract was found to inhibit the cdc25 phosphatase
activity significantly at a very low concentration.
Phyllanthus amarus extract was found to have significant
activity against chemically induced tumour. In
a comparison of the activity of two other liver protecting
drugs such as Emblica officinalis and Picrorrhiza
kurroa, P. amarus, was found to be maximally
active as seen from the inhibition of liver marker enzymes
and proliferative markers. P. amarus extract
was also found to increase the life span of animals
with hepatocellular carcinoma significantly upto 100-
fold or more (Rajeshkumar and Kuttan, 2000). The
results indicate that the extract may be more effective
in the condition of liver tumours.
Presently we have shown that the extract could inhibit
20 methyl cholanthrene induced sarcoma in animals
as seen from the tumour incidence as well as
survival of animals. Number of animals, which developed
sarcoma was only 20 and 75% of the animals
who survived more than 180 days while all the animals
in the control group died of tumour on 160
days.