Treatment with itadori extract inhibited the growth of mouse colon cancer cells (Colon-26) in mice. In addition, it induced DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activation in Colon-26 cells, suggesting potent induction of apoptosis. Itadori extracts are rich in neochlorogenic acid and rutin and also contain quercetin and piceatannol. These polyphenols are thought to be involved in the observed DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activation in colon cancer cells and may thus have anticancer effects. There is hence scope for development of the leaf of itadori, which currently has only a few known uses, as a novel anti-tumor therapeutic.
Keywords: anti-tumor effects; functional food; itadori; polyphenol.