Inhibitory Effects of the Aerial Parts of Epimedium koreanum on TPA-Induced Inflammation and Tumour Promotion in Two-Stage Carcinogenesis in Mouse Skin
Pages 35-42
Ken Yasukawa, Sung-Kwon Ko and Wan-Kyunn Whang
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2016.06.02.1
Published: 27 April 2016

Abstract: Cancer prevention by supplements offers the most cost-effective long-term health strategy. Methanol extracts from the aerial parts of Epimedium koreanum were previously found to inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammatory ear oedema and tumour promotion by TPA in the two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Four prenyl flavonol glycosides (1‒4) were isolated from the active fraction of this extract, and were identified. The isolated compounds showed inhibitory activity against TPA-induced ear inflammatory ear oedema. The 50% inhibitory dose (ID₅₀) of icariin (1), epimedin A (2), epimedin B (3) and epimedin C (4) for TPA-induced inflammation ranged from 114 to 255 nmol/ear, suggesting greater potency than indomethacin (ID₅₀: 908 nmol/ear), an anti-inflammatory drug. Thus, the epimedium herb may be useful in cancer prevention.

Keywords: Cancer chemoprevention, antitumour-promoting activity, two-stage carcinogenesis, prenyl flavonol glycosides, Epimedium koreanum.