An extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don is effective in the arrest of
cancer cell growth in the G1 phase, the induction of apoptosis in cancer
cells and the shrinking of solid cancers. The extract may be prepared as
a pharmaceutical composition for administration to mammals for the
treatment of solid cancers, such as epithelial cancers. Such epithelial
cancers include breast cancer and ovarian cancers. The extract is
obtained from Scutellaria barbata D. Don by contacting aerial portions of
a plant from the species Scutellaria barbata D. Don with an aqueous or
alcoholic solvent.