Inhibitory Effect of Eucommia Bark on Tumour Formation in a Mouse Model of Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Cancer prevention is an important issue in the field of public health. In Oriental countries, Eucommia bark (the bark of <i>Eucommia ulmoides</i>) is used in tonics and anti-hypertensive medicines. Eucommia bark has inhibitory activity against 12-<i>O</i>-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice. We demonstrated that at a dose of 1 mg/mouse, a methanol extract of Eucommia bark markedly inhibited the tumour-promoting activity of TPA in mice with skin tumour formation following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[<i>a</i>]anthracene (DMBA). These results suggest the potential use of Eucommia bark in cancer prevention.<br>