Anti-tumor activity of triterpenoid-rich extract from bamboo shavings (Caulis bamfusae in Taeniam)

Abstract

Bamboo shavings are a kind of Chinese traditional medicine, which have been certificated as a material of functional food by the Ministry of Health in China. The anti-tumor activities of a triterpenoid-rich extract of bamboo shavings (EBS) and its main component, friedelin were evaluated in the present study. It was proved that EBS could inhibit the growth of P388 and A549 cancer cell lines effectively by SRB and MTT assay. Meanwhile, EBS had notable inhibitory effect on the sarcoma-loaded mice S180 model, which led to a depressed trend of tumor weight, compared to cyclophosphamide. Furthermore, the anti-tumor activity of friedelin monomer, a main triterpenoid separated from EBS, was tested by MTT assay and results showed that friedelin displayed rather strong anti-tumor activities on the proliferation of four cancer lines, A375, L929, Hela and THP-1, with a time-dose relationship compared to de-methylcantharidin, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that EBS has a great potential to be applied in functional food for its anti-tumor activity, in which friedelin was one of the most important active factors.

Key words: Extract of bamboo shavings, anti-tumor, friedelin, triterpenoid (Caulis bamfusae in Taeniam).