Tumour Cytotoxic Agent and Methods Thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a novel antitumour agent which provides an antitumour activity based on metabolites with reduced side effects. Moreover, the antitumour agent is prepared starting with a highly safe bacterium used in food production, which is a probiotic lactic acid bacterium.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for treating or preventing cancer, wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, and/or a metabolite from said bacteria strain, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, wherein said bacteria strain is selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus plantarum  I-UL4, TL1, RS5, RG14, RG11 and RI11 deposited at the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC), BIOTEC Central Research Unit of Thailand. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said bacteria strain is in a live form or a non-live, but intact, form. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a metabolite of said bacteria strain. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a nutrient, vitamin, or a salt of an organic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the vitamin is vitamin B. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the salt of an organic acid is a sodium salt of formic acid, acetic acid or lactic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a combination of 6 metabolites derived from  Lactobacillus plantarum  I-UL4, TL1, RS5, RG14, RG11 and RI11 strains deposited at the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC), BIOTEC Central Research Unit of Thailand. 
     
     
         8 . A kit for preventing or treating a cancer in a mammal, wherein the kit comprises a container having enclosed therein a composition as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . An anti-tumour foodstuff comprising a bacteria strain, and/or a metabolite from said bacteria strain, wherein said bacteria strain is selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus plantarum  I-UL4, TL1, RS5, RG14, RG11 and RI11 strains deposited at the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC), BIOTEC Central Research Unit of Thailand. 
     
     
         10 . The foodstuff according to  claim 9 , wherein the foodstuff includes a combination of 6 metabolites derived from  Lactobacillus plantarum  I-UL4, TL1, RS5, RG14, RG11 and RI11 strains deposited at the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC), BIOTEC Central Research Unit of Thailand.