Edible staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta) fruit extract was applied in conjunction with chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil to promote cytotoxicity of the drugs toward human breast cancer cells MCF-7 while protecting normal cells MCF-10A from drug toxicity. Sumac extract would be a promising chemotherapeutic drug conjugate in cancer chemotherapy.
Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; chemotherapeutic drug; staghorn sumac; toxicity.