Herbal therapy use by cancer patients: a literature review on case reports

Aqueous extract of Anisomeles indica and its purified compound exerts anti-metastatic activity through inhibition of NF-κB/AP-1-dependent MMP-9 activation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Anisomeles indica popularly known in Taiwan as 'yu-chen-tsao' has been traditionally used as an anticancer and anti-inflammatory agent; however, little is known about its anti-metastatic potential. Therefore, we attempted in this study to examine the anti-metastatic potential of A. indica aqueous extract (AI), its isolated compounds apigenin, ovatodiolide, β-sitosterol and acteoside in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Among the test agents, crude extract AI and pure compound apigenin potently suppressed the TPA-induced MCF-7 cells migration and invasion. In addition, AI and apigenin time- and dose-dependently down regulated the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 enzymatic activities and its mRNA expression. Furthermore, AI and apigenin also down regulated the nuclear factor (NF)-κB subunit p65, and activator protein (AP)-1 subunit c-Fos proteins expression in nucleus and, transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1. This is the first report on the anti-metastatic potential of A. indica that suppressed the cancer cell invasion through the inhibition of MMP-9 enzyme via NF-κB/AP-1 signaling. Taken together, our data indicate that A. indica can be considered as a source of new anti-metastatic agent for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Downregulation of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 is involved in the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induced by emodin in the SGC-7901 human gastric carcinoma cell line

Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative isolated mainly from the root and rhizome of the medicinal plant Rheum palmatum L., was found to exert anticancer effects on various cultured cancer cells. Phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3), a novel gene, has been known to play an important role in the promotion of cellular proliferation as well as inhibition of apoptosis in cancer cells. However, there is relatively little information in the published literature with regard to the anticancer mechanism of emodin, and whether emodin is involved in the regulation of PRL-3 in human gastric carcinoma cells is not known. In the present study, we investigated the effects of emodin on SGC-7901 cell proliferation, apoptosis and regulation of PRL-3. The results showed that the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by emodin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The results also showed that early apoptosis rates increased in a concentration-dependent manner after emodin treatment. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that PRL-3 mRNA was significantly decreased by treatment with emodin. Western blotting showed that PRL-3 protein expression was also downregulated significantly. Overall, the present study demonstrated that emodin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptotic cell death in the SGC-7901 human gastric carcinoma cell line. Downregulation of PRL-3 is involved in the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induced by emodin. PRL-3 may be a new potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer using emodin.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Elephantopus mollis Kunth. in Human Liver Carcinoma HepG2 Cells Through Caspase-3 Activation

Previous cytotoxic (anticancer) evaluations of Elephantopus mollis were mainly focused on its elephantopin derivatives neglecting the combined effect of the phytochemicals in its traditionally used extracts. In this study, the cytotoxic mechanism of its extracts was investigated using methylene blue assay. The cytotoxic screening results revealed the ethyl acetate extract as the most potent extract by displaying prominent dose-dependent and time-dependent growth inhibitions in human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells with the lowest EC50 value of 9.38 ± 0.43 µg/mL after 72 hours of treatment. Acute exposure of the HepG2 cells to the ethyl acetate extract produced a significant regulation of caspase-3 with the peak expression at 8 hours of treatment ( P < .05). DNA fragmentation indicated by DeadEnd Apoptosis Detection System–labeled nuclei cells confirmed that the extract induced apoptotic cell death through caspase-3-dependent pathway in HepG2 cells.

Applied modern biotechnology for cultivation of Ganoderma and development of their products

A white-rot basidiomycete Ganoderma spp. has long been used as a medicinal mushroom in Asia, and it has an array of pharmacological properties for immunomodulatory activity. There have been many reports about the bioactive components and their pharmacological properties. In order to analyze the current status of Ganoderma products, the detailed process of cultivation of Ganoderma spp. and development of their products are restated in this review article. These include the breeding, cultivating, extracting bioactive component, and processing Ganoderma products, etc. This article will expand people's common knowledge on Ganoderma, and provide a beneficial reference for research and industrial production.

Evaluation of effectiveness of herbal medication in cancer care: a review study

Based on a common belief, herbal medicine with the least possible side effects should be the center of attention in cancer care; however, in many cases they have not been properly studied with reliable clinical trials in human subjects. In this review, it was attempted to identify the available evidence on the use and clinical effects of herbs in cancer care. The research consists of two major parts including immunomodulator and chemopreventive herbal compounds whose mechanism, biological response, anticancer element of extract and related benefits were completely studied. Also, the safety of herbal anticancer compounds was discussed. Although the use of herbal medicines in treating cancer shows less chemotherapy-induced, toxicity, more researches are required to reach their full therapeutic potentials.

The use of herbal medicines by people with cancer: a cross-sectional survey

Background:

A large proportion of cancer patients are estimated to use herbal medicines, but data to substantiate this are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of herbal medicine use among cancer patients in the West Midlands, and determine the characteristics predicting herbal medicine use.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of oncology patients (n=1498) being followed up at a hospital in Coventry was undertaken. Recipients were asked about herbal medicine use since their cancer diagnosis, and the association between sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics and herbal medicine use was evaluated.

Results:

A total of 1134 responses were received (75.7%). The prevalence of herbal medicine use was 19.7% (95% CI: 17.4–22.1; n=223). Users were more likely to be affluent, female, and aged under 50 years. Usage increased with time since cancer diagnosis (X² for trend=4.63; P=0.031). A validation data set, derived from a survey of oncology patients in Birmingham (n=541) with differing socioeconomic characteristics showed no significant difference in estimated prevalence (16.6% 95% CI: 11.9–22.2).

Conclusion:

A substantial number of people with cancer are likely to be taking herbal medicines. Understanding the self-medication behaviours of these individuals is essential if health-care professionals are to support treatment adherence and avoid unwanted pharmacological interactions.