PROCESSED FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION HAVING WATERMELON SPROUT-DERIVED SUBSTANCES AS MAIN INGREDIENTS

摘要

A so-called molecular-targeted drug acting on a signal transduction pathway in a cell has been developed. However, a side effect of the molecular-targeted drug is not negligible for a patient. Thus, there has been a demand for a substance that exhibits a significant growth inhibitory effect on a cancer cell with fewer side effects as a health food and a pharmaceutical composition. It has been found that a hexane extract fraction of a watermelon sprout has an effect of specifically inhibiting the cell growth of the cancer cell and such an effect is primarily caused by phytol and lutein. A processed food and pharmaceutical composition having these substances as main components can exert an anticancer action without causing side effects.