Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Abstract

Anti-cancer Effect of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb

Nagata T, Win N, Xiao Long L, Miwa T, Okumura T, Fushimi H, Morita H and Shimada Y

Background: Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb (SSM) or Yukinoshita in Japanese has been used as a medicinal plant in China and Japan since ancient times. We conducted this research to evaluate the antitumor effects of SSM and explored antitumor factors. Methods: An extract of SSM was added to cultured cells of various cancers to assess its anti-proliferative effect. Next, a peritoneal dissemination model was created by intraperitoneally injecting gastric cancer cells (NKN45) to each nude mouse. Then, the extract of SSM was orally administered to the mice to evaluate its antineoplastic effect in vivo. In addition, in order to identify antitumor phytoconstituents, isolation and fraction of active CHCl3 extract of SSM was carried out by chromatographic methods. Results: The extract of SSM showed potent antitumor effects in cultured cells of esophageal, gastric, and breast cancers in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The antitumor activity of SSM was seen in the mouse model with the intra-abdominal dissemination of gastric cancer cells. Its antitumor effect was not compromised by heating leaves at 100�C or drying them. The analysis of the extract revealed that the active antitumor phytoconstituent of SSM was an aggregate of polysaccharides. Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that SSM had a factor contributing to its antitumor effects in gastric cancers. In conclusion, intake of SSM, drinking decoction of dried leaves, is expected to be effective against gastric cancers.