Angelicae sinensis extracts useful for treatment of cancers

Abstract

The invention provides an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of Angelicae sinensis and/or the active components purified therefrom, such as n-butylidenephthalide, which are effective in treating cancers.

1 . A method for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and migration in tumor tissues in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of  Angelicae sinenses  or at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts in an amount effective for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation in tumor tissues.  
     
     
         2 . A method for inhibiting telomerase activity of cancer cells in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of  Angelicae sinenses  or at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts in an amount effective for inhibiting telomerase activity of cancer cells.  
     
     
         3 . A method for inducing apoptosis of cancer cells in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of  Angelicae sinenses  or at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts in an amount effective for inducing apoptosis of cancer cells.  
     
     
         4 . A method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a medicine comprising an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of  Angelicae sinenses  or at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts in an amount effective for at least one of preventing and treating the cancer.  
     
     
         5 . A method for the treatment of cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an acetone extract, chloroform extract or hexane extract of  Angelicae sinenses  or at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts as an adjuvant in combination with one or more chemotherapy drugs through their activities on cell cycle regulation or telomerase inhibition.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinensis  extracts includes n-butylidenephthalide.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of human malignant glioblastoma, colorectal, leukemia, neuroblastoma, hepatoma, breast, ovarian and lung cancer.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the  Angelicae sinenses  extract or the at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extracts is administered via an oral, parenteral, intravenous (iv), intraperitoneal (ip), intravenous (iv), intramuscular (im), subcutaneous (sc), pulmonary, transdermal, buccal, nasal, sublingual, ocular, rectal or vaginal route.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the  Angelicae sinenses  extract or the at least one active component purified from any of the  Angelicae sinenses  extract is administered via an oral, parenteral, or intravenous route.  
     
     
         10 . A method for the treatment of cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject n-butylidenephthalide in an amount effective for treatment of the cancer.  
     
     
         11 . A method for the treatment of cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject n-butylidenephthalide in an adjuvant in combination with one or more chemotherapy drugs through their activities on cell cycle regulation or telomerase inhibition.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  or  11 , wherein the cancers are selected from the group consisting of human malignant glioblastoma, colorectal, leukemia, neuroblastoma, hepatoma, breast, ovarian and lung cancer.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10  or  11 , wherein n-butylidenephthalide is administered via an oral, parenteral, intravenous (iv). intraperitoneal (ip), intravenous (iv), intramuscular (im), subcutaneous (sc), pulmonary, transdermal, buccal, nasal, sublingual, ocular, rectal or vaginal route.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein n-butylidenephthalide is administered via an oral, parenteral, or intravenous route.