Cytotoxic effects of Aqueous Extracts of Angelica sinensis and

In 2012, kidney cancer was the 7th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. With the incidence of kidney cancer amongst men and women projected to increase from 2011 to 2020, the need for safe and effective cancer therapy remains ever important. Consequently, Complementary and Alternative [CAM] forms of medicine, herbs and herbal extracts are being researched for their potential cancer preventive and therapeutic capabilities. Specifically, the pharmacological activities of two traditional Chinese herbs,Angelica sinensis (A. sinensis) and Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus) have displayed anti-cancer and renoprotective potential. This study demonstrates that aqueous extracts of A. sinensis and A. membranaceus possess anti-cancer properties in terms of cytotoxicity towards ACHN kidney cancer cells in a dose dependent manner. This warrants further investigation of A. sinensis and A. membranaceus as potential anti-cancer agents.