Pharmacognostical and phytochemical analysis of 10% aqueous extract of leaves of shigru (Moringa oleifera lam.), along with its in vitro comparative study in different cell lines of oral cancer

Most common and fast spreading disease in the present era is CANCER. Oral cancer ranks in the top three of all cancers in India, which account for over 30 % of all cancer reported in the country. Cancers are the most common cause of death in adults. Oral cancer is any malignant neoplasm which is found in oral cavity. The incidence of oral cancer is highest in India, South and Southeast Asian countries. In India, 90-95% of the oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer is really having a limited line of treatment and its prognosis; the fate is also unpredictable. It could be said that this is the disease of modernisation. But since it is not true as such incurable tumours like Raktarbuda and Mansarbuda have been described around 1500 B.C. by Acharya Charaka and Ayurvedic surgeon Acharya Sushruta.
Nowadays research is going to invent an Ayurvedic medicine to prevent or to cure cancer; Shigru (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is one of the most important drugs having anthraquinones, flavonoids, sitosterol, tannins, glycosides which possess the anticancer property. According to Bhavprakash Shigru is useful in the treatment of Apachi, Gulma and Ganda. Raj Nighantu mentioned Shigru as Mukhjadyahar (oral disorder). This study focuses on anticancer property of Shigru leaves on different cell lines of oral cancer by in vitro study.