Purpose: The potential of substances from elm bark extracts to affect cancer has been described in several studies. In this study, the anticancer effects of extracts from Ulmus laevis bark were tested in hormone-dependent gynecological tumours using human chorion carcinoma cell lines.
Methods: The molecular-chemical composition of the bark extract was analysed by pyrolysis-field ionisation mass spectrometry. The influence of the extracts was determined on cell vitality and cytotoxicity in the human chorion carcinoma cell lines Jeg3 and BeWo in comparison with primary trophoblast cells.
Results: The elm bark extract was mainly composed of triterpenes, phytosterols, free fatty acids and suberins with lower amounts of dilignols and lipids. The elm bark extract significantly inhibited the vitality of Jeg3 and BeWo cells but increased the vitality of primary trophoblast cells.
Conclusions: Substances extracted from elm bark might have beneficial effects for the prevention of hormone-dependent tumours.