Antitumor activity of flavonoids on NK/Ly ascites tumor cells.

Among the various flavonoids, rutin and quercetin increased the survival time of mice inoculated with NK/Ly ascites tumor cells. The best results were obtained when the mice were given 2.0 mg rutin twice daily for 8 days. The O-silyl-substituted rutin and quercetin were less effective than rutin or quercetin themselves. Besides rutin, quercetin and morin two other flavonoids, luteolin and pelargonidin also exerted growth inhibitory effects on NK/Ly ascites tumor cells cultures in vitro.