Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal Iran Red Crescent Med J 2011; 13(4):272-275 ©Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal SHORT COMMUNICATION The Effect of Fig Tree Latex (Ficus carica) on Stomach Cancer Line

Background: The therapeutic effect of herbal materials in inhibition of cancer cell growth was shown. This study investigates the effect of fig tree latex (Ficus carica) on stomach cancer line. Methods: The in vitro effect of different doses of fig tree latex on stomach cancer cell line and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated after 72 hours. Results: Fig tree latex could inhibit the proliferation of cancer cell line without any cytotoxic effect on human normal cells. Five mg/ml was the optimum concentration in inhibition of cell line growth. Conclusion: Cancer cell line was more sensitive to Ficus carica latex than normal cells. This anticancer activity might be due to presence of its proteolytic enzymes