• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1288-1292
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate cytotoxic effects of Houttuynia cordata T/sub HUNB/ extracts on A549 (lung cancer), MDA-MB231 (breast cancer), SNU-C4 (colon cancer) and B16 (mouse melanoma) cell lines. We have determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. The 150 ㎍/㎖ concentration of methanol extract (63.81 %) of Houttuynia cordata T/sub HUNB/ was shown significantly antitoxic activity on A549 cell lines. The order of cytotoxicity fractions of methanol from Houttuynia cordata T/sub HUNB/ extracts against cancer cell lines in vitro is as follows : hexane fraction layer > chloroform fraction layer > ethyl acetate fraction layer > buthanol fraction layer > water fraction layer. These results suggest that the hexane fraction of methanol extract from Houttuynia cordata T/sub HUNB/ extract may be a valuable choice for the development of antitumor agents.