Abstract: Provided are an anticancer agent, radiosensitizer, and food composition capable of enhancing the effects of radiation therapy. The present inventors discovered that tumors shrink significantly in comparison to an untreated group and the respective monotherapy groups when treatment by burdock fruit extract containing arctigenin and radiation therapy were used in combination on mice transplanted with human pancreatic cancer cells. The anticancer agent of the present invention is an anticancer agent containing arctigenin and/or arctiin as the active ingredient, to be used in combination with radiation therapy. The arctigenin and/or arctiin may be contained as burdock, burdock fruit, burdock sprout, or forsythia, or an extract extracted from these.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an anticancer agent for potentiating an antitumor effect, alleviating side effects, and further extending the survival rate by concomitant use with a component having an anticancer effect. An anticancer agent combining arctigenin and a component other than arctigenin that has an anticancer effect, in which the anticancer agent may be a combination drug or may be a kit configured from a formulation containing arctigenin and a formulation containing a component that has an anticancer effect, and the concomitant use of arctigenin and the component having an anticancer effect more strongly inhibits tumor growth and reduces the proportion of cancer stem cells in the tumor, making it possible to extend the total survival time and to alleviate side effects caused by the component having an anticancer effect.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a novel anticancer agent which is effective to a cancer. After administering an agent prepared using burdock fruit extract to a pancreas cancer patient so that a dose of arctigenin was 100 mg or more per day, the tumor reducing effect was observed, and, in addition, lowering of tumor markers was confirmed. The present invention provides an anticancer agent containing arctigenin, wherein a dose of the arctigenin is 100 mg or more per day. In addition, the present invention provides the anticancer agent containing arctigenin and arctiin at a weight ratio of arctigenin/arctiin=0.7 to 1.3.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A burdock fruit extract containing arctigenin at high content and its production method are provided, and both of which are used for treatment of pancreatic cancer. SOLUTION The burdock fruit extract containing arctigenin at high content by enzymatically converted arctiin into arctigenin with beta-glucosidase, which is an enzyme occurring endogenously in a burdock fruit, and adding ethanol, extracting, concentrating and then freeze-drying or spray drying.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an anticancer agent for potentiating an antitumor effect, alleviating side effects, and further extending the survival rate by concomitant use with a component having an anticancer effect. An anticancer agent combining arctigenin and a component other than arctigenin that has an anticancer effect, in which the anticancer agent may be a combination drug or may be a kit configured from a formulation containing arctigenin and a formulation containing a component that has an anticancer effect, and the concomitant use of arctigenin and the component having an anticancer effect more strongly inhibits tumor growth and reduces the proportion of cancer stem cells in the tumor, making it possible to extend the total survival time and to alleviate side effects caused by the component having an anticancer effect.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a novel anticancer agent which is effective to a cancer. After administering an agent prepared using burdock fruit extract to a pancreas cancer patient so that a dose of arctigenin was 100 mg or more per day, the tumor reducing effect was observed, and, in addition, lowering of tumor markers was confirmed. The present invention provides an anticancer agent containing arctigenin, wherein a dose of the arctigenin is 100 mg or more per day. In addition, the present invention provides the anticancer agent containing arctigenin and arctiin at a weight ratio of arctigenin/arctiin=0.7 to 1.3.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED The present invention is intended to provide a burdock fruit extract comprising arctigenin and arctiin at a definite ratio and a method for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention is intended to provide a method for producing a burdock fruit extract comprising arctigenin and arctiin at a weight ratio of approximately 1:1. SOLUTION A method for producing a burdock fruit extract comprising arctigenin and arctiin at a weight ratio of arctigenin/arctiin=0.7 to 1.3 is provided, including the steps of: cutting a burdock fruit and converting arctiin which is inherent in the burdock fruit into arctigenin by enzymatic conversion by beta-glucosidase which is inherent in the burdock fruit, wherein the enzymatic conversion includes reaction at a temperature from 20° C. to 50° C. Also provided is the method further including a step of extracting an extract comprising arctigenin and arctiin by adding an organic solvent and heating to reflux.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A burdock fruit extract containing arctigenin at high content and its production method are provided, and both of which are used for treatment of pancreatic cancer. SOLUTION The burdock fruit extract containing arctigenin at high content by enzymatically converted arctiin into arctigenin with beta-glucosidase, which is an enzyme occurring endogenously in a burdock fruit, and adding ethanol, extracting, concentrating and then freeze-drying or spray drying.