Novel selective cytotoxicity of wild sarsaparilla rhizome extract.

摘要: Among six fractions, including total extract and fractions of hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, water boiling extracted separated from wild sarsaparilla rhizome, the hexane fraction (HRW) was most effective in eliminating four different human cancer cell lines with cellular viability less than 6.8%. HRW exhibited highest potency against leukaemia cells an IC50 (concentration that inhibited growth rate by 50%) 3.3 +/- 0.3 microg mL(-1), which 17.6-fold smaller normal umbilical vein endothelial (IC50, 58.0 1.5 mL(-1)). For its rich natural resources, simple extraction procedure high yield (3.2%), has potential to be developed as a selective anti-cancer nutraceutical or pharmaceutical health product low side effects economical return.