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

目的从植物和水产品中分离出许多天然产生的抗癌物质，并对其进行化学修饰，以期作为药物进一步发挥作用和安全性。其中一些化合物被用作医院的临床药物。此外，对天然资源中抗癌物质的研究也是今后的工作重点。因此，为了从热带植物中发现新的抗癌物质，我们于1990年在东非特别是肯尼亚、坦桑尼亚和马达加斯加进行了实地考察。研究地区(1)肯尼亚；卡卡梅加、卡洛莱尼、辛巴山、阿伯代尔、山脚下。肯尼亚，穆古加，卡鲁拉森林，植物园。(2)马达加斯加；Foulpoint，塔那那利佛市场。(3)坦桑尼亚；Mpwapwa.天然药用植物的搜寻与采集(1)民族药材(A)口述资料或参考文献(2)未利用的药用资源(A)植物生态观察(B)草食动物取食行为的观察(C)其他分类鉴定的筛选试验。通过对EB病毒的激活抑制试验、对人外周血淋巴细胞和小鼠脾淋巴细胞的刺激指数等初步筛选试验结果，预计有15种植物具有抗癌活性。对于其他植物，将进行抗癌活性筛选试验，以筛选出有用的植物。

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.