Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 17 (3), July 2018, pp.468-473 Antimetastatic, superoxide anion and nitric oxide reduction potential of Solanum xanthocarpum on human lung cancer cell line A549 Mital Bhatt* & Mandadi Narsimha Reddy Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat-395 007, Gujarat, India E-mail: mital.bhatt14@gmail.com Received 01 September 2017, revised 19 March 2018 Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & H. Wendl is a prickly herb, extensively known for its medicinal properties across the tribal and rural parts of India. Its efficacy in lung disorders and related respiratory diseases is well established in Ayurveda. In present time, cancer is considered as a significant challenge and metastasis is the most devastating hallmark in cancer progression. The present study evaluates the effects of whole plant and root of S. xanthocarpum on highly metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Extracts were prepared using ethyl acetate and chloroform in various dilutions. Cytotoxicity of the plant and root extracts was analyzed. Wound healing assay was employed to check the effects on migration of highly metastatic A549 cells. Moreover, plants effects on cellular superoxide anion O  ∙ and nitric oxide (NO) quantities were evaluated to check effects on the redox regulation of the cell. All the extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum are not cytotoxic. However, all the extracts efficiently inhibit migration of A549 cells. The whole plant in ethyl acetate treatment shows a three-fold decrease in wound healing capacity of the cells. Ethyl acetate extracts of the plant show potential inhibition of NO   and all the extracts show decreased levels of O  ∙ at higher concentrations. Keywords: S. xanthocarpum, Lung cancer, Antimetastatic, A549, Wound healing IPC Int. Cl. 8 : A61K 36/00, A01D 4/04, A01D 20/47, A01D 20/48, A61K 39/395 India has an enormous biodiversity and rich knowledge of traditional systems of therapy such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Amchi and folk medicines. Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & H. Wendl., a synonym of Solanum virginianium L., is the plant found throughout India, a member of Dashamula and is of significant use in Ayurvedic formulations. Different names of Solanum xanthocarpum are known in various languages in India, Kantakari (Sanskrit), Kateri and Bhatkataiya (Hindi), Bhoringni (Gujarati), Kantankattiri (Tamil), Kantkariccunta (Malayalam), Vakudu (Telugu), Nelagulle (Kannada) 1,2 . Kantakari is used as an ingredient in many of the compound formulations including Vyaghriharitaki avaleha, Chavanaprasha, Dasamoolarishta, Vyaghri tailam, Vyaghri ghrtam, Vyaghriyadi kwatha, etc. 1 . Whole plant, roots and fruits are used to treat various ailments such as vitiated conditions of Vata and Kapha, helminthiasis, dental caries, inflammations, flatulence, constipation, dyspepsia, anorexia, leprosy, skin diseases, hypertension, fever, cough, bronchitis, hiccough, lumbago, haemorrhoids and epilepsy. The plant is bitter, acrid, thermogenic, anthelmintic, anti- inflammatory, digestive, carminative, appetizer, stomachic, febrifuge, expectorant, laxative, stimulant, diuretic, rejuvenating, emmenagogue and aphrodisiac 1 , and helpful in bronchial asthma 1,2 , tympanitis, peristalsis, piles and dysuria 2 . Many of the reported secondary metabolites of the plant such as lupeol, apigenin, solamargine have shown apoptosis inducing activity in cancer cells. Moreover the phytochemicals – stigmasterol, carpesterol, diosgenin and lupeol found to show immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects 2,3 . In our previous in silico study, lupeol interaction with proteins involved in MAPK pathway was reported 4 .The plant is abundant in phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, sterols, saponins and their glycosides, carbohydrates, fatty acids, tannins and amino acids 5 . It also shows antioxidant activity 6 . According to tribal practices in the area of South Gujarat, S. xanthocarpum is an anticancer and antimetastatic herb. Adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer occurring in non-smoker patients, is one of the most prevalent types of lung cancer, and its types are found to be challenging because of drug resistance and metastasis. An increase in Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) proportion is observed in never smokers _______ *Corresponding author