Suppressive Effect of Fig (Ficus Carica) Latex on Esophageal Cancer Cell Proliferation

Abstract

SUMMARY Fig (Ficus carica) tree latex was a source of treatment of different diseases in the Iranian traditional medicine reported by Avicenna in his 10th century book Canon of Medicine. The aim of this investigation was to establish the anticancer effect of fig tree latex on human cancer cells. The in vitro effect of different doses of fig tree latex including 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, and 10 mg/ml on esophageal cancer cell line was evaluated after 72 hours by MTT assay. There was a significant change in 10 mg/ml treatment of latex after 72 hours on esophageal cancer line (P; 0.025). Ten mg/ml was the optimum concentration in the inhibition of cell line growth. Fig (Ficus carica) tree latex could be a candidate as a potential agent for the inhibition of cancerous cells production and development.