According to traditional knowledge, Fagonia cretica has medicinal potential, especially against cancer and tumors. In the present study, this information was analyzed at laboratory level by performing cytotoxic, antitumor (potato disc) and DNA damage assay. | Turk J Biol 31 (2007) 19-24 © TÜB‹TAK Cytotoxic and Antitumor Potential of Fagonia cretica L. Ahsan HUSSAIN, Muhammad ZIA, Bushra MIRZA Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad - PAKISTAN Received: Abstract: According to traditional knowledge, Fagonia cretica has medicinal potential, especially against cancer and tumors. In the present study, this information was analyzed at laboratory level by performing cytotoxic, antitumor (potato disc) and DNA damage assay. Significant cytotoxic activity was found against brine shrimps at LD50 ppm, while antitumor assay showed that the extract inhibited tumor induction on potato discs. Significant antitumor activity was found against all the tumor-inducing Agrobacterium strains tested (At6, At10 and At77), with maximum tumor inhibition () against At10. However, the extract did not show any lethal activity against Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, and furthermore, no DNA damaging activity was observed. The overall results indicate a strong anti-cancerous potential of this plant. Key Words: Fagonia cretica L, cytotoxic activity, potato disc assay, mutagenic activity Introduction Screening programs for biologically active natural products require the right bioassays. Detection of compounds with the desired activity in complex plant extracts depends on the reliability and sensitivity of the test systems used. Thus, bioassays are essential for monitoring the required effects throughout activityguided fractionation and purification until the active mono-substances are obtained. Fagonia cretica L., a member of the family Zygophyllaceae, is a small spiny undershrub (Figure 1), mostly found in dry calcareous rocks throughout Pakistan (1,2). It is reputed to be a medicinal plant in scientific and folkloric literature, and its medicinal values are well documented (3). Fagonia cretica is astringent, febrifuge and prophylactic against small-pox. The plant is
