Anticancer Effect of Persimmon Leaf Extracts on Korean Gastric Cancer Cell

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of persimmon leaf extracts on human gastric cancer cells. In vitro anticancer effects of persimmon leaf extracts (water extract at 80 degrees C for 3 hours, water extract at room temperature for 48 hours, 50% ethanol extract at 80 degrees C for 3 hours, 50% ethanol extract at room temperature for 48 hours, 75% ethanol extract at 80 degrees C for 3 hours and 75% ethanol extract at room temperature for 48 hours) on SNU16 (Korean gastric cancer cell) were investigated by MTT assay. Persimmon leaf extracts exhibited strong in vitro anticancer effects. We found that the higher the ethanol content of the solvent, the stronger the in vitro anticancer effects. Extraction yields, contents of flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E were measured. We found that the higher the ethanol content of the solvent, the higher the extraction yields and the contents of flavonoids, vitamin A and vitamin E. Among persimmon leaf extracts, 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract showed the highest extraction yield, the highest contents of flavonoids, vitamin A and vitamin E and exhibitied the strongest in vitro anticancer effect on SNU16. Therefore, 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract was chosen as the material to investigate in vivo anticancer effects. In vivo anticancer effect of persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract was investigated in SNU16 transplanted nude mice. Twenty five female nude mice (BALB/c) were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 4 weeks with diets containing 4% (w/w), 8% (w/w) persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract, with IT (intratumoral) injection treatment with 1.65 mg/100 microliter, 3.3 mg/100 microliter concentration every other day 3 weeks after SNU16 was transplanted. Persimmon 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract significantly lowered tumor weight and tumor volume in SNU16 transplanted nude mice. Tumor weight and tumor volume in all experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Helper T cell (CD4) levels of mice injected with 3.3 mg/100 microliter extract significantly increased. Cytotoxic T cell (CD8) levels in all experimental groups significantly increased and helper/cytotoxic T cell ratios in all experimental groups significantly decreased. Natural killer cell and MHC class II molecule in all experimental groups significantly increased. In conclusion, persimmon leaf 75% ethanol 80 degrees C extract exhibited strong in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects against SNU16 cells and it increased cytotoxic T cell, natural killer cell and MHC classII molecule in experimental groups in SNU16 transplanted nude mice.