Studies on Anticancer Agents from Ethnic Crude Drugs and Unused Medicinal Resources in East Africa

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AimsMany naturally occurring anticancer substances have been isolated from plants and marine products, and also their chemical modification are tried for further effect and safety as medicine in various institutes. Some of these compounds are used as clinical medicines in hospital. Furthermore, study on anticancer substance in natural resources is desired for the future. Therefore, in order to find new anticancer substances in tropical plants, field research in East Africa, especially, in Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar was carried out by us in 1990.Methods1. Research areas(1) Kenya ; Kakamega, Kaloleni, Shimba hill, Aberdare, the foot of Mt. Kenya, Muguga, Karura forest, Arboretum.(2) Madagascar ; Foulpointe, Antananarivo market.(3) Tanzania ; Mpwapwa.2. Search and collection of natural medicinal plants(1) For ethnic crude drugs(a) by oral information or references(2) For unused medicinal resources(a) by observation of ecology of plants(b) by observation of feeding behavior of herbivore(c) by screening test of others identified taxonomicallyResultsA total of 150 species of plants was collected during the research. Among these plants, 15 species are expected to exhibit anticancer activity from results of first screening tests such as inhibition test on EB-virus activation and stimulation index on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mouse spleen lymphocytes.For the other species, screening test of anticancer activity will be done to select useful plants.