CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS FRACTIONS EXTRACTED FROM SOME PHARMACEUTICAL INSECT RELATIVES

This research was performed to screen the cytotoxic activities of some pharmaceutical insect relatives. Cytotoxic activities of total extrac t and fractions of hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, water and boiling water were extracted from four pharmaceutical insect relatives: the Ch inese gall, the cicada slough, the hornet nest and the batryticated si lkworm. These extracts were investigated against the cancer cell lines of L1210, P388 and SNU-1 in vitro tests. Results showed that, ED,, ag ainst the cancer cell lines of L1210, P388 and SNU-1 were 0.55, 0.50, and 0. 83 mu g/ml in the ethyl acetate fraction from the Chinese gall; 1.07, 2.19, and 2.24 mu g/ml in the ethyl acetate fraction, 1.51, 1.2 6, and 1.45 mu g/ml in the water fraction and 1.48, 2.29, and 1. 29 mu g/ml in the boiling water fraction from the cicada slough; 3.31, 2.00 , and 6.61 mu g/ml in the water fraction from the hornet nest and 13.8 0, 19.95, and 31.62 mu g/ml in the hexane fraction and 33.88, 21.88, a nd 25.12 mu g/ml in the ethyl acetate fraction from the batryticated s ilkworm, respectively. All of the fractions mentioned above showed hig h cytotoxic activities and could be suggested for further studies in v ivo tests.