Objective    To study the extraction of anthocyanins from mulberry fruits and to observe their inhibitory effect on the growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-453 cells in vitro and in vivo.     Methods    Freeze-dried mulberry fruit powder was subjected to ultrasonic extraction with 70% ethanol at a material-to-liquid ratio of 1∶15 for 1 h. The extract sol

ution was purified by Amberlite

TM

XAD7HP resin in pH 3.0 acidic environment

at an adsorption flow rate 1 ml/min and an elution flow rate 1 ml/min

to obtain an anthocyanin-containing extract. The inhibition of the anthocyanin-containing extract on MDA-MB-453 cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Twenty-four female BALB/c nude mice were injected with MDA-MB-453 cells to establish a transplanted tumor model. The mice were then randomized into 4 groups: a control group

a low dose group

a middle dose group and a high dose group and the treated with the anthocyanin-containing extract at 0

50

100

and 200 mg/（kg·d）

respectively. Tumor volume was measured every four days

and tumor weight was measured on the 28th day.     Results    The average content of anthocyanins in the mulberry fruit extract was 41.8%. CCK-8 assay indicated that the anthocyanin-containing mulberry fruit extract reduced breast cell viability markedly

exhibiting a dose-effect relationship[（14.8±1.8）%，（29.8±2.2）%，（33.0±2.7）%，（44.3±3.8）%

respectively

]

. Tumors in the high dose and middle dose groups were significantly smaller [（55.5±4.8）% and （39.3±3.2）%

]

and lighter [（51.6±4.2）% and （38.9±3.1）%

]

than those in the control group

indicating growth inhibition of the transplanted tumors.     Conclusion    The anthocyanin-containing mulberry fruit extract can significantly inhibit the growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-453 cells.