Antitumor agent

Abstract

A composition is obtained from Banyan tree bark that has insulin antisecretory and cytotoxic properties. The composition can be useful in treating conditions characterized by hyperinsulinism including insulinoma and infant hyperinsulinism.

1 . A method to isolate a composition which inhibits insulin secretion in βTC-6 cells and HIT-T15 cells and is non-cytotoxic to βTC-6 cells but; 
 cytotoxic to HIT-T15 cells; and which is cytotoxic to SV40 Mes13 cells, but not cytotoxic to MDCK cells, which method comprises 
 a) extracting the bark of  Ficus bengalensis  with a solvent of lower alcohols to obtain an extract;  
 b) drying the extract to obtain a residue;  
 c) dissolving the residue in methanol;  
 d) loading the dissolved residue onto an activated silica gel column;  
 e) eluting the column with additional ethanol:hexane (2:1) to obtain an eluent; and  
 f) removing solvent from the eluent to obtain said composition.  
 
 
     
     
         2 . A composition obtainable by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . A method to treat tumors that secrete insulin which method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment an amount of the composition of  claim 2  effective to treat said tumor.  
     
     
         4 . A method to inhibit insulin secretion which method comprises contacting cells that secrete insulin with an amount of the composition of  claim 2  effective to decrease insulin secretion.  
     
     
         5 . A method to treat tumors characterized by HIT-T15 or βTC-6 cell line characteristics which method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment an amount of the composition of  claim 2  effective to treat said tumor.