Herbs for Cancer

Herbs for Colon Cancer

Herbs that can be used for Colon Cancer with a recent study:-

1. Curcuma longa

Part Used – Curcumin.

Mode of Action – Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa. Over the last few years, several studies have provided evidence of its main pharmacological properties including chemo-sensitizing, radio-sensitizing, wound healing activities, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. More recent data provide interesting insights into the effect of this compound on cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Preclinical studies have shown its ability to inhibit carcinogenesis in various types of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). Curcumin can interact with multiple molecular targets affecting the multistep process of carcinogenesis. Also, curcumin can arrest the cell cycle, inhibit the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Likewise, it has been shown to possess marked antiangiogenic properties. Furthermore, curcumin potentiates the growth inhibitory effect of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)- 2 inhibitors and traditional chemotherapy agents implicating another promising therapy regimen in the future treatment of CRC. However, its clinical advance has been hindered by its short biological half-life and low bioavailability after oral administration. This review is intended to provide the reader with an update on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of curcumin and describes the recently identified molecular pathways responsible for its anticancer potential in CRC.

Reference – Villegas, Isabel & Sánchez-Fidalgo, Susana & Lastra, Catalina. (2008). New mechanisms and therapeutic potential of curcumin for colorectal cancer. Molecular nutrition & food research. 52. 1040-61. 10. 1002/ mnfr. 200700280.

Active Ingredients – Curcumin, tannic acid, gallic acid, resveratrol.

Mode of Action – A dose-escalation pilot study of a novel standardized Curcuma extract in proprietary capsule form was performed at doses between 440 and 2200 mg/ day, containing 36- 180mg of curcumin. Fifteen patients with advanced colorectal cancer refractory to standard chemotherapies received Curcuma extract daily for up to 4 months. The activity of glutathione S- -transferase and levels of a DNA adduct (M (1) G) formed by malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation and prostaglandin biosynthesis, were measured in patients’ blood cells. Oral Curcuma extract was well tolerated, and dose-limiting toxicity was not observed. Neither curcumin nor its metabolites were detected in blood or urine, but curcumin was recovered from faces. Curcumin sulfate was identified in the feces of one patient. Ingestion of 440 mg of Curcuma extract for 29 days was accompanied by a 59 % decrease in lymphocytic glutathione S- S-transferase activity. At higher dose levels, this effect was not observed. Leukocytic M (1) G levels were constant within each patient and unaffected by treatment. Radiologically stable disease was demonstrated in five patients for 2- 4 months of treatment. The results suggest that (a) Curcuma extract can be administered safely to patients at doses of up to 2.2 g daily, equivalent to 180 mg of curcumin.

Reference – Sharma RA, McLelland HR, Hill KA, Ireson CR, Euden SA, Manson MM, Pirmohamed M, Marnett LJ, Gescher AJ, Steward WP. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of oral Curcuma extract in patients with colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2001 Jul; 7 (7): 1894- 900. PMID: 11448902.    

2. Allium sativum 

Active Ingredient – Diallyl sulfide (DAS)

Mode of Action – Chemoprevention is regarded as one of the most promising and realistic approaches in the prevention of human cancer. Diallyl sulfide (DAS), an organosulfur component of garlic has been known for its chemopreventive activities against various cancers and also in recent years, numerous investigations have shown that sulfur-containing compounds induce apoptosis in multiple cell lines and experimental animals. Thus the present study was focused on elucidating the anticancerous effect and the mode of action of DAS against Colo 320 DM colon cancer cells. DAS-induced apoptosis in Colo 320 DM cells was revealed by flow cytometer analysis and phosphatidyl serine exposure. DAS also promoted cell cycle arrest substantially at the G2/ M phase in Colo 320 DM cells. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates, which were examined by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA), increased with time, after treatment with DAS. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were decreased upon DAS treatment, which shows antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, respectively. The expression of NF-kappaB was upregulated in DAS-treated cells, compared to normal cells. Further, DAS promoted the expression of caspase- 3 and suppression of Extracellular Regulatory Kinase-2 (ERK-2) activity in Colo 320 DM cells that was determined by Western blot analysis. In conclusion, DAS increased the production of ROS, caused cell cycle arrest, decreased cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis in Colo 320 DM cells. Thus, this study put forward DAS as a drug that can be used to treat cancers.

Reference – Narayanan, Sriram & Srinivasan, Kalayarasan & Pandurangan, Ashok & Anandasada Gopan, Suresh Kumar. (2008). Diallyl sulfide induces apoptosis in Colo 320 DM human colon cancer cells: Involvement of caspase-3, NF- B, and ERK- 2. Molecular and cellular biochemistry. 311. 10. 1007/ s11010- 008- 9706- 8.