Hibiscus anthocyanins for inhibiting cancers

Abstract

This invention provides a composition for inhibiting cancer cell growth comprising Hibiscus anthocyanins extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa . This invention also provides a method for treating cancer comprising administering a patient with an effective amount of Hibiscus anthocyanins.

1 . A composition for inhibiting cancer cell growth comprises  Hibiscus  anthocyanins.  
     
     
         2 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  is Roselle ( Hibiscus sabdariffa ).  
     
     
         3 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins are prepared from the flower or calyx of the Roselle.  
     
     
         4 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins are characterized by HPLC shown in  FIG. 1 .  
     
     
         5 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins are extracted by water or organic solvent.  
     
     
         6 . The composition as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the organic solvent is alcohol, ester, alkane or halogenated alkane.  
     
     
         7 . The composition as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the alcohol is methanol.  
     
     
         8 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins comprise delphindin and cyaniding.  
     
     
         9 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins are prepared by a method comprising: 
 (a) incubating Roselle with methanol,    (b) concentrating the incubation under reduced pressure,    (c) eluting the precipitate with methanol, and    wherein the methanol contains 0.1% HCl.    
     
     
         10 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins induce the apoptosis of the cancer cell.  
     
     
         11 . The composition as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cancer cell is human leukemia cell.  
     
     
         12 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins activate Caspase 8 pathway.  
     
     
         13 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins activate Caspase 3 pathway.  
     
     
         14 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins stimulate cytochrome c release.  
     
     
         15 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins activate p 38 MAP kinase pathway.  
     
     
         16 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins activate c-Jun kinase pathway.  
     
     
         17 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins activate Bid pathway.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         19 . A method for treating cancer comprises administering a patient with an effective amount of  Hibiscus  anthocyanins.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the cancer is leukemia.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the  Hibiscus  anthocyanins is characterized by HPLC shown in  FIG. 1 .  
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the effective amount is 0.5˜5.0 mg/ml.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the effective amount is 3.0 mg/ml.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the administration is via injection, oral or external application  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the administering is via injection.