The water extract fraction of wasabi (Eutrema wasabi Maxim.) markedly
suppressed the growth of MKN-28 human stomach cancer cells. When MKN-2
8 cells were cultured with more than 40 mul/ml of the water extract of
wasabi, they were underwent morphological alteration with frequent ce
ll death. The substances that suppressed the growth of MKN-28 cells we
re existed in the fraction consisting of components with molecular wei
ghts under 5000. The growth-inhibiting effect on MKN-28 cells was unaf
fected by treatment at 90-degrees-C for 10 min. Shinigrin and isothioc
yanates which are main components of wasabi had no growth-inhibiting e
ffect.