Pharmacological Evaluation in Marine Ascidians

Abstract

Eudistoma viride a marine ascidian of immense medicinal value was taken for detailed study for Pharmacological investigations. As the phytochemical constituents of the ascidian Eudistoma viride has not been carried out, the ascidian was taken for present phytochemical investigation. The dried ascidians were macerated with methanol, dichloromethane, chloroform and hydro alcohol. The extracts were named as methanol extract (MEEV), dichloromethane extract (DEEV), chloroform extract (CEEV) and hydroalcohol extract (HEEV). All the four extracts were subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity to select the extract for in vivo investigation. It was found that the methanolic extract show pronounced cytotoxic activity. So the methanolic extract was subjected to acute and subacute toxicological evaluation and it was found that methanolic extract was safe in higher doses and also at repeated administration, observed by histopathological evaluation and biochemical estimation. The methanolic extract was then subjected to in vivo anti-cancer evaluation using Ehrilch s ascites carcinoma and Dalton s lymphoma ascites. The results of the higher doses of the methanolic extract of Edistoma viride were comparable with that of standard drug cisplantin. Based on the results of the present study it may be concluded that Eudistoma viride has a potency to inhibit the tumour growth of Dalton s lymphoma ascites and Ehrlich s ascites carcinoma induced in mice using in-vivo technique. The anti cancerous property of Eudistoma viride which inhibits the growth of the tumour may be because of the presence of Lupeol in the methanolic extract of Eudistoma viride. The structural characteristic of the active component was confirmed by standard UV, MASS, IR, NMR techniques. Anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of Eudistoma viride was carried out by Carrageenan-induced edema and Cotton Pellet-induced granuloma technique and showed anti-inflammatory activity. The next step would be to find out the exact mechanism of action of anti-microbial activity.