The methanol extract of Diospyros peregrina (Ebenaceae) bark (MEDP) were evaluated for antitumor activity and antioxidant activity against Dalton’s ascites lymphoma (DAL)-bearing swiss albino mice. The extract was administered at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight per day for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. After the last dose and 18 h fasting, the mice were sacrificed. The present study deals with the effect of MEDP on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of DAL-bearing hosts, hematological profile, biochemical and antioxidant profile. MEDP caused significant decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume, and viable cell count; and it prolonged the life span of DAL-tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile converted to more or less normal levels in extract-treated mice. The lipidperoxidation was increased in tumor bearing animals, after treatment with MEDP antioxidant levels increased significantly. The results indicate that MEDP exhibited significant antitumor activity in DAL-bearing mice.
