ABSTRACT

In the present study, we have evaluated the antitumour and anticarcinogenic activity of turmeric essential oil in vivo. Turmeric essential oil was found to have significant in vitro cytotoxic activity against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites cells (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cancer cell lines. Concentration needed for 50% cytotoxicity (IC₅₀) was 8 μg for DLA cells and 18 μg to EAC cell lines. Oral administration of turmeric essential oil was found to significantly increase the life span (56.25%) of Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) induced ascites tumour bearing mice as well as significantly reduced (P<0.001) the solid tumours. 3-Methyl cholanthrene induced sarcoma development was also delayed and there was significant increase in the life span of mice after oral administration of turmeric essential oil. Moreover, turmeric essential oil significantly (P<0.001) inhibited phenobarbitone induced cytochrome p450 enzyme activity in rats.