Echinacea Inhibits Adenosine Deaminase Enzyme in Cancerous Human Gastric Tissue

Aim: This study aims to investigate the possible effects of aqueous Echinacea (E. Purpurea, whole plant) extract on Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in cancerous and non-cancerous human gastric and colon tissues. Materials and Methods: Thirty three cancerous and 33 non-cancerous human gastric tissues, and 25 cancerous and non-cancerous human colon tissues removed by surgical operations were studied. In the samples, adenosine deaminase activities were measured with and without extract incubation. Results: It has been observed that Echinacea extract inhibits ADA enzyme in cancerous gastric tissues significantly. It exerts however no inhibitory effects on the ADA activities in the other tissues. Conclusion: It is proposed that inhibition of ADA enzyme by the Echinacea extract might play part in anti-cancer mechanism of Echinacea in some cancers like gastric cancer.