PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - RYUICHIRO SUZUKI AU - HIROSHI SAKAGAMI AU - SHIGERU AMANO AU - KUNIHIKO FUKUCHI AU - KATSUYOSHI SUNAGA AU - TAISEI KANAMOTO AU - SHIGEMI TERAKUBO AU - HIDEKI NAKASHIMA AU - YOSHIAKI SHIRATAKI AU - MINEKO TOMOMURA AU - YOSHIKO MASUDA AU - SATOSHI YOKOSE AU - AKITO TOMOMURA AU - HIROFUMI WATANABE AU - MASAKI OKAWARA AU - YOSHIHARU MATAHIRA TI - Evaluation of Biological Activity of Mastic Extracts Based on Chemotherapeutic Indices DP - 2017 Jul 01 TA - In Vivo PG - 591--598 VI - 31 IP - 4 4099 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/31/4/591.short 4100 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/31/4/591.full SO - In Vivo2017 Jul 01; 31 AB - Background: Most previous mastic investigators have not considered its potent cytotoxicity that may significantly affect the interpretation of obtained data. In the present study, we re-evaluated several biological activities of mastic extracts, based on chemotherapeutic indexes. Materials and Methods: Pulverized mastic gum was extracted with n-hexane and then with ethyl acetate or independently with methanol or n-butanol. Tumor specificity (TS) of the extracts was determined by their cytotoxicity against human malignant and non-malignant cells. Antibacterial activity was determined by their cytotoxicity against bacteria and normal oral cells. Antiviral activity was determined by their protection of viral infection and cytotoxic activity. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 activity was measured by β-hydroxylation of testosterone. Results: Ethyl acetate extract showed slightly higher tumor specificity (TS=2.6) and one order higher antibacterial activity (selectivity index (SI)=0.813) than other extracts (TS=1.4-2.5; SI=0.030-0.063). All extracts showed no anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity, but some anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) activity, which was masked by potent cytotoxicity. They showed strong inhibitory activity against CYP3A4. Conclusion: Ethyl acetate extraction following the removal of cytotoxic and CYP3A4 inhibitory substances by n-hexane can enhance antitumor and antibacterial activity of mastic.