In vitro anti-proliferative effects of the willow bark extract STW 33-I

Arzneimittel-Forschung
G A BonaterraR Kinscherf

Abstract

The well-known anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the phytopharmacon willow bark extract have been attributed to the content of salicin; however, pharmacological studies have shown that salicin alone, despite being involved in its therapeutic action, cannot fully explain its clinical efficacy. In addition to reducing inflammation and pain, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, CAS 50-78-2), like other synthetic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has been shown to exert anti-proliferative effects and to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell lines, e.g., colon, stomach, and prostate cancer cells. To investigate the mechanism of action and possible anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effects of willow bark, a water extract (STW 33-I) and a polyphenol rich fraction (fraction E) have been tested by using the colon-carcinoma cell line HT-29. Both, STW 33-I and its fraction E showed significant anti-proliferative and (1) Introduction The most well-known component of willow bark extract is salicin, which is metabolized in vivo to salicylic acid. The standardized aqueous willow bark extract STW 33-I, which is an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug, contains 23-26% total salicin derivatives and additionally flavonoid...Continue Reading

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