CLINICAL TRIALS CANCER
REVIEW ARTICLE: The results of human studies on Maitake D-fraction indicates strong potential of Maitake D-fraction for cancer treatment (Namba H. Maitake D-fraction: healing and preventive potential for cancer. J. Orthomol Med 12(1): 43-8, 1997).
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY-LaPacho- Pau D'Arco
LaPacho has a long history of use by the natives of Brazil. The major active component is lapachol.
9 patients with various cancers (liver, kidney, breast, prostate, and squamous cell carcinoma of the palate and uterine cervix were given pure lapachol at a daily dose of 20-30 mg/kg in 250 mg. capsules with meals. Lapochol was able to shrink tumors and reduce cancer pain in all patients. 3 had complete remissions. Nausea and vomiting caused the cessation of treatment in 3 patients; there were no other significant side effects. (Dinnen RD, Ebisuzaki K. The search for novel anticancer agents: a differentiation-based assay and analysis of a folklore product, Anticancer Research 17(2A):1027-33 1997).
"Indian Functional Foods: Role in Prevention of cancer," Krishnaswamy, Kamala, M.D. Nutrition Reviews, November,1996;54(11):S127-S131.
SUMMARY: It is estimated that 320,000 individuals in India die of cancer yearly. Turmeric has always been used in Indian food for color and flavor. Tumeric at low levels have inhibited the excretion of urinary mutagens in a dose-dependent manner. Turmeric tablets given orally have inhibited the excretion of urinary mutagens within 1 month in smokers. Turmeric and curcumin have been shown to inhibit tumors in the skin, breast, oral cavity, and forestomach in initiation and promotion models of several species. Turmeric administration as tablets has been shown to resolve preneoplastic legions and significantly reduce damage to DNA in smokers. Turmeric at .5-1g/day can be consumed without side effects. The level of protection from turmeric may be significant.
"Curcumin as an inhibitor of cancer", Nagabhushan, M., Ph.D. and Bhide, S.V., Journal of the American College of Nutrition,1992;11(2);192-198.
SUMMARY: Curcumin I and Curcumin II are the yellow phenolic compounds that come from the spice turmeric. It appears that curcumins exert their anticarcinogenic activity by altering the activity and/or detoxification process of carcinogen metabolism. The study shows that curcumins inhibit cancer at the initiation, promotion, and progression phases of development. It also appears that curcumins exert an anticarcinogenic effect by inhibiting cell replication of fully developed neoplastic cclls.
Kuttan R et al. Tumeric and curcumin as tiopical agents in cancer therapy. Tumori 73(1):29-31,1987).
ARTICLE: "Honeybee Propolis and Artepillin C in cancer and Its Chemoprevention," Micallef MJ, Kimoto T, Kurimoto M, Recent Res Devel Cancer, 2000;2:305-317.
SUMMARY: Propolis is a resin of plant origin that is produced by honeybees and is a mixture of concentrated compounds with chemopreventative and anti-cancer effects and potential anti-tumor effects. In vivo anti-tumor effects may be due to am combination of anti-microbial, antiinflammatory and oxyradical scavenging activities, as well as immunostimulatory effects. The chemopreventative effect of propolis and its various ingredients were seen in models of mammary, colon, renal, skin and lung carcinogenesis, and the direct effects of propolis were evident on solid tumors of various animal species and leukemias of different lineages. Propolis is a resin which is taken from plants by honeybees and deposited in hives where it is thought to protect the hive and its occupants from microbial infection. It is dark in color and has a very characteristic odor.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY:
62 pts. with either ulcerating or cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas who had failed to respond to standard treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy were given either an ethanol extract of turmeric (for oral cancers) or an ointment containing 9.5% curcumin in Vaseline. The ointment was applied topically 3 times daily. At the end of the 18-mo. study, the treatment was found to have been very effective is reducing the smell of the lesion (90% of pts.), itching exudate(70%), pain and size of the legion (10%) (Kuttan R et al. Tumeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer therapy. Tumori 73(1):29-31,1987).
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY: Oral and subcutaneous administration of catrix, a specific administration of bovine tracheal cartilage rings, resulted in a high response rate in 31 cases of a variety of clinical malignancies (response rate 90%, 61% complete) following years of full dose therapy. The usual dose was eight 375 mg. capsules every 8 hours. Maintenance dosage was given orally. Responders included glioblastoma multiforme and cancers of the pancreas and lungs as well as cancers of the ovary, rectum, prostate, cervix, thyroid, and an inoperable squamous cancer of the nose. There was no evidence of toxicity (Prudden JF. The treatment of human cancer with agents prepared from bovine cartilage. J Biol Response Mod 4(6):551-584,1985.
Dr. Prudden MD,DSc conducted follow-ups using the same protocol with over 100 patients up to 19 years and received the same results. Some of the responders used no standard cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery). Others did use bovine tracheal cartilage as an adjunct to standard therapies.
The following is scientific information not evaluated by the FDA and should be considered for educational purposes only. 10 grams of vitamin C daily, 400 iu selenium, 400 iu vitamin E, 3 grams of niacinimide, and high potency multiple vitamin without iron.-LINUS PAULING PHD. RECOMMENDATION
The following is scientific information not evaluated by the FDA and should be considered for educational purposes only. Green barley powder daily which is an excellent alkanalizing agent and structurally almost identical to the hemoglobin in the blood.
ARTICLE: "Edible plant extracts modulate macrophage activity and bacterial mutagenesis", Lau, Benjamin H.S., M.D., Phd., et al International Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 1992; 12(3): 147-155.
Summary: This is a review article of the product called Kyo-green and its potential anticarcinogenic and immune potentiating properties. Kyo-Green is a powdered drink made from young barley leaves and wheatgrass, and blended with 2 types of seaweed, chlorella (an algae) and laminaria(kelp). the barley leaves and wheatgrass are good sources of chlorophyll, and are rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes. Barley leaves are especially rich in beta-carotene, B vitamins and certain minerals. Chorophyll helps build rthe blood and neutralize toxins. Recent research on chlorophyll reports radioprotective, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Seaweed or kelp is high in minerals, particularly calcium iodine, potassium and magnesium and is a good source of vitamin C. An evaluation of these Kyo-Green edible plant extracts in the laboratory data suggests that they may serve as chemoprentative dietary supplements, exerting an immune enhancing and antimutagenic-anticarcinogenic activity.
ARTICLE: "NK-Immunomodulation by Active Hemicellulose Compound in 17 Cancer Patients," Ghoneum M, Second Meeting of the Society for Natural Immunity: The Natural Killer Cell and Its Interaction With Immune and Non-Immune Cells, May25-28, 1994, Taormina, Italy.
Summary: In 17 patients with a variety of cancers, including ovarian, multiple myeloma, stomach, breast, lung, rhabdomyosarcoma and prostate, active hemicellulose compound (AHCC) at 3 g/day taken orally for 2-6 months resulted in significant enhancement of natural killer cell activity against K562 tumor cell lines as early as 2 weeks. Activity was further increased at subsequent time periods up to 6 months post-treatment with AHCC. Natural killer activation was also seen in Raji cells, but later at 1-2 months with a 2- to 10-fold increase, AHCC activates natural killer cells by increasing their binding capacity to tumor cell targets by 2-fold, and also by increasing natural cell granularity.
ARTICLE: "Immunomodularity and Anticancer Effects of Active Hemicellulose Compound (AHCC)," Ghoneum M, Wimberly M, wt al, Int J Immunotherapy, 1995;11(1):23-28.
Summary: In 11 cancer patients with a variety of cancers, including breast, multiple myeloma, ovarian and prostate, subjects were given 3 g of AHCC daily. the percentages of patients with complete remission included 2 out of 3 prostate cancer patients, 2 out of 3 ovarian cancer patients, 1 out of 2 multiple myeloma patients, and 1 out of 3 breast cancer patients, with 2 partials. The patients had a low level of natural killer cell activity at 18.8%, which was significantly enhanced by AHCC at 2 weeks (2.5 fold), and was maintained at a high level. AHCC also had some direct anticancer properties. In vitro studies showed inhibition of tumor cell growth and reduced tumor cell counts.
ARTICLE REVIEW: Other studies with up to 269 patients per study achieved similar results to the 2 aforementioned studies with 3 grams daily of AHCC.
SUMMARY:
Alkyglycerols:
Shark liver oil has the highest concentration next to mother's milk and bone marrow.
Administration may produce tumor regression.
Review Article: By combining multiple biological activities in one molecule, alkyl analogues of 2-PLC represent a unique class of antitumor drugs. They modulate the adoptive immune system by suppressing antigen-specific host defense cells. They change the invasive and differentiate behavior of tumor cells and they induce a selective destruction of neoplastic cells. Although proven to have potent tumor activity in animal tumor models, their therapeutic efficacy in humans requires confirmation in the larger phase I/II trials now under way" (Andreesen R. Ether lipids in the therapy of cancer. Prog Biochem Pharmacol 22:118-31,1988.
ARTICLE: " Inositol Hexaphosphate, IP6 as an Anti-Neoplastic and Lipid-lowereing Agent," Jariwalla RJ, Anticancer Res, 1999;19:3699-3702.
Summary: In a rat model, it was shown that adding potassium-magnesium phytate (IP6) to a cancer-causing diet completely inhibited the cancer process.
ARTICLE REVIEW: 15 articles have examined the therapeutic action of Wobezyme, a proteolytic enzyme used widely in Germany for the treatment of cancer. The studies were in vitro, by injection, and orally. All of the studies concerned the use of Wobezyme in conjunction with standard therapies and as a follow-up therapy when the patient had finished with the conventional therapies of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Oral usage of Wobezyme accounted for 12 of the studies. In all cases Wobezyme was found to be of significant benefit in extending both the quality and length of life.
ARTICLE REVIEW: Reversatrol, an extract from grape skin (taken orally) has been found beneficial in the treatment of cancer.
ARTICLE REVIEW: Indol-3-Carbinol, an extract from cruciferous vegetables, is beneficial in the treatment of female cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers. It may be harmful in the treatment of other cancers.
ARTICLE: "Chinese Medicinal Herbs Modulate Mutagenesis, DNA Binding and Metabolism of Benzo (a)Pyrene 7,8-Dihydrodiol, and 10-Epoxi", Wong, B.Y.Y., et al Cancer Letters, 1992;62:123-131.
Summary: Olenlandia diffusa (OD) and scutellaria barbata (SB) have been traditional Chinese medicines for treating liver, lung and rectal tumors. The effects of aqueous extracts of these 2 herbs yon benzo(a)pyrene compounds were assessed, and it was found that these 2 Chinese medicinal herbs possesses antimutagenic properties and act as blocking agents through a scavenging mechanism.
ARTICLE: "Whey protein Concentrate (WPC) and Glutathione Modulation in Cancer Treatment," Bounous G, Anticancer Res, 2000;20:4785-4792.
Summary: This article reviews a variety of case studies regarding the role of a whey protein concentrate in the progression of cancers of the prostate, uterus, kidney and bladder. These case reports showed an antitumor effect of whey protein on these urogenital cancers, The mechanism appears to be whey protein acting as a cysteine donor for glutathione replenishment. Whey proteins also have anti-carcinogenesis and anticancer activity. They do this be increasing glutathione concentrations in specific tissues, and they may have antitumor effects on low volume of the tumor via stimulation of immunity through the glutathione pathway. Dose ranges were between 10 and 30 g of this whey protein daily.
ARTICLE: "Epigallocatechin gallate, the main ingredient of green tea induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells," Zhao X, et al, Front Biosci, 2006;11:2428-33.
Summary: In this cell culture study, a major component of green tea -epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-was found to induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells. ... The results of this cell culture study suggest that green tea may hold potential as a therapeutic agent in the prevention and/or treatment of breast cancer. Additional research is encouraged.
ARTICLE: "Red Wine, Green Tea and Vitamins: Do Their Antioxidants Play a Role in Immunologic Protection Against Cancer or even AIDS?" Mathe G, Biomed Pharmacother, 1999;53:165-167.
Summary: High consumption of green tea is geographically associated with low rates of cancer. Green tea contains polyphenols, which may protect against certain cancers. Green tea polyphenols can inhibit chemical or skin carcinogenesis.
ARTICLE REVIEW: Clinical studies have shown green tea polyphenols and catechins to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancers, stomach cancers, leukemia, liver cancers, cervical cancers.
CLINICAL TRIALS BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
Picrorrhiza Kurroa
The root and the leaves of the Picrorrhiza kurroa have been use extensively in ARYUVEDIC medicine in the treatment of hepatic and respiratory diseases.
Experimental Study: 25 pts. received 400 mg. daily of Picorrhiza root. All pts. had marked relief of asthmatic symptoms. (Langer JG, Gupta OP, Atal CK. Clinical trials of Picorrhiza kurroa root in bronchial asthma. Indian J Pharmacol 7:95-6,19750.
Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia Serrata is a large branching tree native to India.
Experimental Double-blind Study: 80 pts. 18-75 years old with a mean duration of illness of 9.58 years were randomly treated with a preparation of gum resin of Boswellia serrata 300 mg.3 time daily or a lactose placebo for 6 weeks. 70% of pts. in the treatment group showed marked improvement in symptoms. In contrast only 27% of ptd. in the control gp. improved. (Gupta I et al. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: Results of a double-blind placebo controlled, 6 week clinical study Eur J Med Res 3(11):511-4,1998).
Vitamin C: 2 grams daily; 4-8 grams during reactions
Observational Study: 24 hour dietary recalls were obtained with
9074 white and black adults aged 30 and older in the second US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The Vitamin C intake was associated with a 30 per cent lower incidence of active bronchitis and wheezing (Schwartz J, Weiss ST. Dietary factors and their relation to respiratory symptoms. The Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Epidemiol 132(1):67-76,1990).
ARTICLE: "Natural Treatment of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis," Thornhill SM, Kelly A-M, Alt Med Rev, 2000;5(5):448-454.
Summary: Histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine are concentrated in the fresh stinging hairs of the leaves of the nettles (urtica) species. Three hundred milligrams of freeze dried Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) in 69 patients with allergic rhinitis showed greater improvement in the stinging nettle group versus placebo. Three hundred milligrams of freeze-dried stinging nettle is recommended for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Bromelain is a glycoprotein with one oligosaccharide moiety and one reactive sulfhydryl group for each molecule and is a proteolytic enzyme derived from the stem of the pineapple plant. For allergic rhinitis, 400-500 mg, 3 times daily, of an 1,800-2,000 m.c.u. potency bromelain is recommended. Quercitin is a flavanoid aglycone of rutin and is found in a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. The recommended dosage for allergic rhinitis is 250 mg. to 600 mg, 3 times daily, 5-10 minutes before meals. Quercitin's effect is enhanced by giving bromelain at the same time. N-Acetylcysteine is a natural, sulfur-containing amino acid derivative that detoxifies as well as protects cells and cellular components against oxidative stress. N-Acetylcysteine has been documented as an effective mucolytic agent for chronic bronchitis and other pulmonary diseases. A dose of 200 mg, twice daily been found to decrease chronic bronchitis. Then recommended dosage is 500 mg to 2g daily. Vitamin C has a variety of effects on histamine. It has been shown to prevent the secretion of histamine by white blood cells and increase its detoxification. Histamine levels have been found to be inversely correlated with ascorbic acid levels. In 27 subjects who received vitamin C intranasally compared with 21 who received placebo sprayed in the nose, 3 times daily, after 2 weeks, 74% of the subjects treated with the vitamin C solution were found to have decreased secretion, blockage and edema. Improvement occurred in only 24% of the placebo subjects. Vitamin C is nontoxic and virtually free of side effects. At least 2 grams a day of vitamin C is recommended for allergic rhinitis.