An anti-cancer compound is purified from Chios mastic gum resin by suspending mastic gum resin in a non-acidic, aliphatic hydrocarbon, an aqueous solution containing at least 25 percent water-soluble, non-acidic, aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture or combination thereof, and removing the insoluble fraction. A method for treating cancer cells comprises administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fraction of mastic gum resin that inhibits growth of cancer cells. The anti-cancer compound is effective against various types of cancer cells, including human colon cancer cells.
展开▼
