Carcinogenicity of Extracts of Selected Plants From Curacao After Oral and Subcutaneous Administration to Rodents

Decoctions of 14 plants commonly taken internally by esophageal cancer patients on the island of Curacao were assayed for carcinogenic activity in rats and mice. Krameria ixina induced subcutaneous sarcomas at the site of injection in 100% of the rats. Sorsaka, sali, laraha, and raton each caused subcutaneous sarcomas in 1 or 2 rats, of 15 tested. No tumors were induced in mice given the same decoctions orally.