Patient Research:

Oct 2007

Herb Research:

Dec 2009

There are no secret or magical cures for cancer. Daniel, while having deeply studied integrative oncology never makes unfounded claims. There are however, compounds and herbs, which alleviate side effects of radio and chemotherapy without interfering with their actions. There are herbs and compounds, which increase quality of life (QoL) and may bring greater life expectancy. There is solid research in these and other areas in which you may need support.

New therapeutic aspects of flavones: the anticancer properties of Scutellaria and its main active constituents Wogonin, Baicalein and Baicalin.

Traditional Chinese medicines have been recently recognised as a new source of anticancer drugs and new chemotherapy adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and to ameliorate the side effects of cancer
chemotherapies however their healing mechanisms are still largely unknown. Scutellaria baicalensis is one of the most popular and multi-purpose herb used in China traditionally for treatment of inflammation, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial and viral infections. Accumulating evidence demonstrate that Scutellaria also possesses potent anticancer activities. The bioactive components of Scutellaria have been confirmed to be flavones. The major constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis are Wogonin, Baicalein and Baicalin. These phytochemicals are not only cytostatic but also cytotoxic to various human tumor cell lines in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Most importantly, they show almost no or minor toxicity to normal epithelial and normal peripheral blood and myeloid cells. The antitumour functions of these flavones are largely due to their abilities to scavenge oxidative radicals, to attenuate NF-kappaB activity, to inhibit several genes important for regulation of the cell cycle, to suppress COX-2 gene expression and to prevent viral infections. The tumour-selectivity of Wogonin has recently been
demonstrated to be due to its ability to differentially modulate the oxidation-reduction status of malignant vs. normal lymphocytic cells and to preferentially induce phospholipase C gamma 1, a key enzyme involved in Ca(2+) signaling, through H(2)O(2) signaling in malignant lymphocytes. This review is aimed to summarise the research results obtained since the last 20 years and to highlight the recently discovered molecular mechanisms.
Li-Weber M. Cancer Treat Rev. 2009 Feb;35(1):57-68.

Chemoprevention by Resveratrol

Survivin and Resveratrol

Indirubin Stat 3 and Apoptosis

Resveratrol Leukaemia

Antiproliferative activity herb extracts and breast cancer

Curcumin and cancer formation

Cancer Cells don't grow up

Colorectal Neoplasm

Herb Research:

Oncology: Herb Research for Cancer

HERBS FOR CANCER

Clinical Herbal Studies and Research – A Brief Summary 

Bai Hua She She Cao, Herba Oldenlandia 

Oral indigestion of this herb was found to have a dose-dependent effect to enhance macrophage function in vitro and inhibit tumour growth in vivo.

Ref.: Wong BY, Lau BH, Jia TY, Wan CP. Oldenlandia diffusa and Scutellaria barbata augment macrophage oxidative burst and inhibit tumour growth. ‘Cancer Biother Radiopharm' 1996 Feb; 11 (1):5-6 

Dong Ling Cao, Herba Rabdosiae 

Esophageal and cardiac cancer:  In one study, 95 patients with middle-to-late stage esophageal and cardiac cancer were treated with preparations of this herb. Preparation I was made by mixing the herb with syrup (1:1 ratio); the treatment protocol was to give 20 to 30 ml three times daily for 2 to 3 months per course of treatment. Preparation II was made by incorporating 4.5 to 5 grams of the herb into pills three times daily for 2 to 3 months per course of treatment. Preparation III was made by mixing 75 to 100 mg of the active ingredient, Rubescensine A, in 500 ml of D5W; the treatment protocol was to infuse the preparation IV every other day until a total of 3000 to 3500 mg of compound had been given.   The study concluded the rate of effectiveness was 26.7% for Preparation I, 27.6% for Preparation II and 31.8% for Preparation III.

Liver cancer:  According to one study, 31 patients with primary liver cancer were treated successfully with preparations of this herb. Improved appetite and reduced pain were reported in 80% of the subjects. The survival rate after treatment was 29.6% after 6 months, 12% after one year and 10% after 2 years.

Ref.: Xian Dai Zhong Yao Li Xue (Contemporary Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs), 1997; 1468-1469; and He Nan Yi Xue Yuan Xue Bao (Journal of Henen University of Medicine) 1976; (5):22. 

Ban Mao, Mylabris 

Liver cancer:  In one study, 300 patients were treated with cantharidin, the active ingredient in Ban Mao, and chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The protocol for cantharidin was 0.25 to 0.5 mg three times daily. The study reported and all-over rate of effectiveness of 65% based on symptomatic evaluation and the tumour size in the liver.  In another study, 2 to 6 pills of the herb (each pill contained 0.25 mg of cantharidin, Bai Ji (Rhizoma Bletillae), aluminium hydroxide, and others) were given to 800 patients with liver cancer daily with 45 to 60% showing positive results.  There were reductions of symptoms; decrease of tumour size and 12.7% of patients remained alive after one year.

Breast tumour:  In one clinical study, 42 patients with lobular hypertrophy of the mammary gland were treated with on overall rate of 83% effectiveness using oral, intravenous or intramuscular injection of Tian Men Dong.  In another study, 72 patients with mammary cancer showed marked improvement using the same treatment protocols. For oral administration, the protocol was to weigh out 63 grams of the herb, remove the outer layer of the root, add a small quantity of grain-base liquor, steam the preparation for 30 to 60 minutes and ingest the herbs in three equally-divided doses daily.

Malignant lymphoma:  According to one report, 41 patients were treated with an overall 87.9% effectiveness using an integrated approach of Chinese and Western medicine.  Out of 41 patients, 23 received herbal treatment only, and 18 received the combination of herbs and chemotherapy treatments.  The herbal treatment consisted of intravenous injection of Tian Men Dong and intramuscular injection of Bai Hua She She Cao (Herba Oldenlandia) twice daily for 3 to 6 months. The injectable contained dosages equivalent in decoction to 10 to 40 grams (with a maximum of 120 grams) for Tian Men Dong and 8 grams for Bai Hua She She Cao. Those who could not tolerate injections were converted to oral ingestion of the herbs three times daily.  Recently, these two herbs have been use together in studies to treat fibrocystic breast disorders and cancer of the breast and lymphatic system.

Ref.:  Yao Xue Tong Bao (Report of Herbology), 1980; 3:2 And: Jiang Su Yi Yao ( Jiangsu Journal of Medicine and Herbology); Xing Yi Xue (New Medicine) 1975; 4:193  

Dong Chong Xia Cao, Cordyceps 

Malignant tumours in 30 patients were treated with 1.5 grams of the herb in concoction three times daily over 2 months.  The study reported good improvement based on symptomatic assessment in 93% of the patients.

Ref.:  Shang Hai Zong Yi Yao Za Zhi ( Shanghai Journal of Chinese Medicine and Herbology) 1986; 10:25  

Da Zao, Fructus Jujubae 

Several anti-neoplastic components of this herb have demonstrated and inhibitory effect on cancer cells. Continuous administration of mashnic acid, one of the active components, for 14 days was more effective than 5-fluorouracil in inhibiting the growth of the cancer cells.

Ref.: Ibid.  

Huang Qi, Radix Astragali 

In an in vivo study, administration of the herb was associated with the reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression.

Ref.:  Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Immunity, 1988 Mar. 25(3):125 

Tian Nan Xing, Rhizoma Arisaematis 

Cervical cancer: In one study, 105 patients were treated with a 78% rate of effectiveness using both oral and topical applications of the herb. The treatment protocol was to start with an oral decoction starting with 15g/day and gradually increasing to 45g/day. In addition, local topical application was given using various dosage forms such as powder, suppository and injections.

Ref.:  Zhong Yao Xue (Chinese Herbology) 1998; 1972; 17:8  

E Zhu, Rhizoma Curcumae 

Malignant cancer:  Patients with various malignant cancers (stomach, lung, liver, esophageal) were treated with an IV infusion of herbal solution daily. The herbal injection was prepared by mixing 60 to 100 ml of 150% E Zhu solution with 500 ml of D5W.  Out of 19 patients in the study, there was complete recovery in 1 case, marked effectiveness in 4 cases, satisfactory improvement in 3 cases and no response in 11 cases.

Ref.: Journal of Shandong University School of Medicine; 1980; 1:30 

San Leng, Rhizoma Sparganii 

Hepatic carcinoma:  Patients were treated both with herbal injections and powder with a 43.3% rate of effectiveness. Out of 30 patients, marked improvement in 3, good improvement in 10 and no response in 17 was recorded.

Malignant tumour:  In one study, 31 patients at terminal stage of cancers were treated with a herbal decoction. Marked improvement was seen in 5 patients, good improvement in 19 patients and no response in 7 patients.

Ref.:  Zhong Liu Yu Fang Yan  Jiu (Tumour Prevention Research), 1973, 1:31; Fu Jian Zhong Yi Xue Yuan Xue Bao (Journal of Zhejian University of Medicine) 1983; 3:31 

Fu Ling, Poria 

A herbal preparation was evaluated for its antineoplastic effects in 70 patients in the oncology department of Fouzhou hospital in China . Some patients were given the herbal decoction only; some used it together with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery. In all patients, it was observed that the herb strengthens the immune system, improves liver and kidney function, increases appetite and body weight and minimized the adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy.  

Fen Fang Ji, Radix Stephaniae Tetandrae 

Lung cancer:  Intravenous injections of a herbal preparation (180 to 300 mg of the herb mixed with saline or D5W) were given to 97 patients with promising results. The preparation showed a marked inhibitory effect on DNA and RNA of the cancer cells.

Ref.:  Journal of Chinese Medicine; 1980; 3:597