Cancer-fighting Molecules and Plants

Comment from the ACR Institute: One of the strengths of a plant-based and holistic approach to cancer is based on the synergy mechanism, whereby many of the plant’s molecules will work in unison, on multiple pathways at the same time, signaling enzymes and cellular  receptors to get back to restorative homeostasis and-or other functions. By doing so, many of these plant molecules have a direct impact on cancer’s own mechanisms of growth, from angiogenesis, to metastasis, immuno-dysfunction and much more. Below are a few of those plants that have been researched the most in the cancer field. There are many more, but these plants, mushrooms and herbs below will give the viewer a better idea as to how Nature operates insofar as the evolutionary “survival of the fittest” modus operandi is concerned.
Evidence that tumeric and its key curcuminoids are synergistically anti-cancer for many pathways.

Evidence supports the assertion  that tumeric and its key curcuminoids are synergistically anti-cancer for many pathways. See below

Astragalus Root is known worldwide for its ability to boost white blood cell production from our bone marrow. (7) It has also been shown to inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cells (8) Our Astragalus is a 10:1 extract
Beta Glucan is a well known stimulator of white blood cell maturation and activity. (27) β-(1,3/1,6)-d-glucan boosted dendritic cells (DCs) maturation, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. (28)Bitter Melon  has shown multiple actions against Pancreatic cancer cells. (19) It can overcome Cisplatin resistance in Ovarian Cancer cells by exerting anticancer effects through activation of AMPK and suppression of  mTOR. (20)

Boswellia inhibits NF-kB and 5-LOX, initiators of inflammation, and increases apoptosis. (23) Boswellia increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and cisplatin in Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells. (24)

Broccoli contains components like Sulforaphane and BITC, that induce cancer cell apoptosis. (17) Sulforaphane mediates a number of anticancer pathways, including the activation of apoptosis, induction of cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of NFκB. (18)
Chamomile contains Apigenin, which inhibits migration in many cancers. (29) Apigenin suppressed tumor growth, lowered proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in prostate cancer. (30)

Curcumin upregulates tumor suppressing genes. (1) Curcumin inhibits the growth factors cancers cells use to proliferate and suppresses the growth of cancer stem cells. (2) In human breast, esophageal, and colon cancer, curcumin increased the malignant cells’ sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs and to the effects of radiation treatments. (3).

Flaxseed Lignans reduce growth and metastasis in breast cancer. (31)

Green Tea contains a polyphenol called EGCG, which has been shown to suppress tumor growth by blocking the growth of new blood vessels to supply the tumor. (4) Studies show that EGCG suppresses the growth and invasion of human breast cancer cells. (5) Green Tea also increased apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. (6)

Maitake mushroom and its polysaccharides boosts the activity of white blood cells. (11) Clinical studies show systemic anti-tumor immune response. (12)

Mangosteen Fruit Rind contains  a-Mangostin, which has been shown to inhibit cell growth in many cancers. (21) Mangosteen was shown to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells. (22)

Milk Thistle has shown an ability to prevent UVB-induced skin cancers. (25) Milk Thistle component Silymarin  suppressed cell growth and arrested cell cycle progression in Ovarian Cancer. (26)

Pterostilbene selectively kills breast cancer stem cells. (32)

Quercetin exerts anti-tumor activity through multiple pathways. (15) Quercetin has shown synergistic effects when combined with chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy, while at the same time protecting healthy cells from the damage of such treatments, in a variety of cancers. (16)

Reishi mushroom has been shown to boost apoptosis through the Caspase pathway. (13) It was also shown to reduce tumor growth and rate in Inflammatory Breast Cancer in human trials. (14)

Se-Methylselenocysteine, the natural form of Selenium found in vegetables, inhibits growth of prostate cancer. (33)

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) mushroom has over 20 clinical studies that show it reduces tumor growth. (9) In a phase I clinical study of women with breast cancer, it was shown to increase Natural Killer Cell activity, the immune cells that target cancer. (10) Bastyr Naturopathic University’s cancer research department received a large grant to better study this mushroom. With reishi (gonaderma), boletus and, among others, the infamous “champignon de Paris”, turkey tail fungi should be a “forget-me-not”.

milkthistle

Reference Notes

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  2. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2013 May;6(5):387-400
  3. Transl Oncol. 2010 Apr;3(2):99-108
  4. Front Biosci. 2008 Jan 1;13:440-52
  5. Cancer Lett. 2007 Jan 8;245(1-2):232-41
  6. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Jan;1095:428-40
  7. Chin Med. 2015 Jul 3;10:17
  8. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2015 Sep;388(9):965-72
  9. Integr Cancer Ther. 2015 May;14(3):201-11
  10. ISRN Oncol. 2012;2012:251632
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  13. Asian Pac JCancer  2014;15(9):3981-6
  14. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e57431. doi: 10.1371
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  20. Integr Cancer Ther. 2016 Sep;15(3):376-89
  21. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:546353
  22. Int J Oncol. 2016 May;48(5):2155-65
  23. J Ethnopharmacol.2016 Jun 21. pii: S0378-8741(16)30413-5
  24. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014 Jul;38(1):58-70
  25. Int J Oncol. 2005 Jan;26(1):169-76
  26. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014 Nov 15;743:79-88
  27. Int JCancer. 2016 Jun 1;138(11):2713-23
  28. Hum Immunol. 2015 Mar;76(2-3):146-54
  29. Oncol Lett. 2016 May;11(5):3075-3080. Epub 2016 Mar 16
  30. Oncotarget. 2015 Oct 13;6(31):31216-32
  31. Int J Cancer. 2005 Sep 20;116(5):793-8
  32. J Agric Food Chem. 2015 Mar 11;63(9):2432-41
  33. J Cancer Res Ther.2015 Oct-Dec;11(4):840-5
Disclaimer: Nothing in this educational blog should be construed to constitute medical advise
2016 & up to now (c) Advanced Cancer Research Institute.  All rights reserved

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