Antioxidant action of Andrographis paniculata on lymphoma

Regulation of the balance between production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cellular processes and its removal by antioxidant defense system maintains normal physiological processes. Any condition leading to increased ROS results in oxidative stress which has been related with a number of diseases including cancer. Improvement in antioxidant defense system is required to overcome the damaging effects of oxidative stress. Therefore in the present study, effect of the aqueous extract of a medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata (AP) on antioxidant defense system in liver is investigated in lymphoma bearing AKR mice. Estimating catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase monitored the antioxidant action. Oral administration of the aqueous extract of A. paniculata in different doses causes a significant elevation of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase activities. It reveals the antioxidant action of the aqueous extract of AP, which may play a role in the anticarcinogenic activity by reducing the oxidative stress. LDH activity is known to increase in various cancers due to hypoxic condition. Lactate dehydrogenase is used as tumor marker. We find a significant decrease in LDH activity on treatment with AP, which indicates a decrease in carcinogenic activity. A comparison with Doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancerous drug, indicates that the aqueous extract of AP is more effective than DOX with respect to its effect on catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S transferase as well as on lactate dehydrogenase activities in liver of lymphoma bearing mice.