Anti-cancer potential of traditional Chinese herbal medicines and microbial fermentation products

C. H. Chui, R. Gambari, F. Y. Lau, I. T.N. Teo, K. P. Ho, G. Y.M. Cheng, B. Ke, T. Higa, H. L. Kok, A. S.C. Chan, Cheuk On Tang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The uses of traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHM) in forms of extracts for anti-cancer purpose have been practiced in China since 3,000 B.C. However, most of the TCHMs that have been claimed to possess anti-cancer potential are still not experimentally proved and/or the underlying mechanistic actions were not defined. Recently, we have reported the principal mechanisms involved in the anomalous fruit extract of Gleditsia sinensis Lam (GSE) induced cancer cell death. Furthermore, we also continued our study on three other TCHMs including the fresh juice of Scutellaria barbata (SBJ) and warmed water extract of Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis (RSTE) (Sophora subprostrata C. et T. C) and Brucea javanica (BJE) (Fructus bruceae). On the other hand, we have also investigated the possible use of microbial fermentation products in the forms of either dried biomass (Phaffia rhodozyma) or fermented extract (effective micro-organism fermentation extract, EM-X). Taken together, we believe that the accumulation of experimental and clinical evidences could further sustain the scientific base for the clinical use of both TCHMs and microbial fermentation products in the foreseeing future.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-191
Number of pages9
JournalMinerva Biotecnologica
Volume17
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2005

Keywords

  • Herbal
  • Microbial fermentation products
  • Neoplasms
  • Traditional Chinese medicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

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