This study evaluated the antitumor potential of the ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica leaves in a murine model of uterine cancer. The study focuses on tumor volume reduction, tumor growth inhibition (%TGI), body weight changes, hematological responses, serum biomarkers, and final tumor weight following treatment with A. indica extract. Ethanolic extract of A. indica was prepared by the Soxhlet method, and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to determine its bioactive compounds. The bioactive compounds include ferulic acid (32.83ppm), syringic acid (23.56ppm), chlorogenic acid (23.12ppm), quercetin (21.62ppm), vanillic acid (13.12ppm), cinnamic acid (8.47ppm), gallic acid (5.32ppm), p-coumaric acid (3.95ppm), and m-coumaric acid (2.85ppm). After tumor induction, animals were allocated into seven equal groups (n=12) with each group having 3 replicas. First five groups, G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5, were treated with 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800mg/kg of A. indica extract, respectively, for 30 days. G6 served as a positive control (tumor induced, non-treated), and G7 served as a negative control (non-tumor, non-treated). Tumor volume was recorded after every 10 days, and percentage tumor growth inhibition (%TGI) was also calculated to assess the dose-dependent activity. A. indica-treated groups demonstrated a marked reduction in tumor volume at higher concentrations (400 and 800mg/kg), that reflected by significantly elevated TGI% values with P<0.05. Body weight changes loss was observed in the positive control, whereas the treated groups showed dose-dependent improvement. Hematological analysis revealed that cancer progression led to anemia, leukocytosis, and reduced PCV, while A. indica extract restored RBCs and normalized WBC profiles at the highest concentration. Serum biochemistry revealed that the elevated levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), C-reactive protein (CRP), and total proteins observed in cancer controls were significantly reduced in treated albino rats, suggesting both hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects.  Moreover, the antioxidant activity of A. indica extract likely contributed to the improved hematological and biochemical profiles. Overall, the ethanolic extract of A. indica leaves exhibited potent dose-dependent anti-tumor activity and improved metabolism. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of A. indica-based plant formulation as a safe, effective, and natural alternative for treating uterine tumors.

To Cite This Article: Wang R, Yang Y, Zhou S and Xue H, 2026. Evaluation of antitumor activity of ethanolic extract of azadirachta indica (neem) leaves against uterine cancer. Pak Vet J, 46(2): 401-409. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.029