Antiprolifrative activities of three Thai medicinal plants on human cancer cells.

In Thailand, the stems and leaves of Pouzolzia pentandra Benn., stems of Erycibe elliptilimba Merr.& Chun., and Gelonium multiflorum A. Juss. have long been used as traditional medicines for cancer therapy. The ethanol, water, methanol:water and ethyl acetate extracts of these three plants were tested in vitro against four different human breast cancer cell lines and two human lung cancer cell lines using MTT screening method. The methanol extract of Erycibe elliptilimba Merr. & Chun. showed the most potent antiproliferative activities against these specific human cancer cells. The results, therefore, suggested to some extent the benefit of the traditional use of Erycibe elliptilimba Merr.& Chun. in the treatment of malignancies.