Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Folk Remedy, Food Spice May Fight Cancer (propolis, turmeric)
Yahoo News ^ | June 10, 2005 | Yahoo News

Posted on 06/10/2005 8:55:21 PM PDT by FairOpinion

FRIDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer researchers have been given a million-dollar grant to investigate the therapeutic value of the folk medicine propolis and the food spice turmeric.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute grant is earmarked for the study of the two alternative remedies, each of which has shown promise in reducing risks for breast, prostate and colorectal malignancies, and in enhancing cancer treatment.

Propolis and turmeric are rich in plant polyphenolic compounds that exhibit potent antitumor activities, the researchers said.

"A very interesting property of these compounds is that they have been shown to cause cell death in tumor cells but not in normal cells," study lead investigator Costas Koumenis, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, in Winston-Salem, N.C., said in a prepared statement.

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from the bark and leaves of trees and plants. Since ancient times, propolis extracts have been used as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatments. The major active ingredient in propolis is caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). Recent research has found CAPE protecting mice against radiation-induced inflammation and skin damage, and also protecting rats against certain forms of heart muscle damage after they were given chemotherapy drugs.

Turmeric, a spice found in curries, contains the compound curcumin. Previous studies found an association between diets rich in curcumin and greatly reduced rates of colon cancer, the researchers said.

"Based on these interesting properties of CAPE and curcumin and their good safety profile, our lab has carried out studies in cell cultures and experimental animal tumor, showing that the compounds can make tumor cells more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation, while having little effect or even reducing some of the toxic effects of radiation on normal cells," Koumenis said.

For the next four years, he and his team will study if CAPE and curcumin enhance radiation therapy in deadly brain tumors called gliomas and other tumors in animals. They'll also attempt to learn how the two compounds make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation, while protecting normal cells.

"The differential effects of this class of compounds on normal and tumor cells are well-documented, but still remains a mystery," Koumenis said. "Discovering how they are able to do this may open the way to design drugs with similar properties but are even more potent."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alzheimers; beekeeping; beepropolis; cancer; curcumin; curry; health; medicine; nutrition; osteoporosis; propolis; supplements; turmeric; vitamins
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last

bump


41 posted on 06/11/2005 4:32:31 PM PDT by Diago
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Humidston; Thinkin' Gal; USNBandit; TexasCowboy
In the USA, the best way to make the curry paste is with a can opener according to my wife. Mae Ploy brand in plastic tubs/cans is the best. It is usually far less expensive to buy the ingredients at an Asian market. Sort of instructions follow:

1/2 to 5 teaspoons Red or Yellow curry paste (depending on tolerance for extreme heat) The Yellow paste is more sour but has the turmeric

one can coconut milk

1 lb chicken (dices in 1" cubes)

i medium onion coarsely diced

2 carrots chopped

two small potatoes diced

2 to 4 cloves garlic

Most any other veggie you like added in proportionate amounts (I like chopped egg plant)

two tablespoons cooking oil

For the first time, warm curry paste in oil until smooth and giving off good aroma. add chopped garlic and cook briefly. Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add chicken and veggies and simmer for an hour until done (firm chicken and soft potatoes). Serve over brown rice or rice noodles. If you are new to rice noodles here is the best way to fix them:

Soak noodles in water until soft. Boil water and add the noodles for one to two minutes until soft. Drain and rinse with cold water. Serve immediately with curry.

42 posted on 06/11/2005 5:13:03 PM PDT by JimSEA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

Oh wow! Thank you and thank your wife, JimSEA. I really appreciate this.

I'm now hand writing it because my printer is out of ink, LOL!


43 posted on 06/11/2005 5:50:36 PM PDT by Humidston (Yo, Hitlary... BRING IT ON!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: twas; concerned about politics; cyborg; djf; 1066AD


irrelevant witch doctor ping


44 posted on 06/11/2005 6:24:12 PM PDT by null and void (Oh what a tag lined web we weave...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

Does she make it with chicken nuts?


45 posted on 06/11/2005 6:26:45 PM PDT by null and void (Oh what a tag lined web we weave...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: null and void

excellent article


46 posted on 06/11/2005 6:50:40 PM PDT by cyborg (I am ageless through the power of the Lord God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA
My wife's Gang Pet Gai (Thai chicken curry) has always been one dish I can't eat too often. Over brown rice or rice noodles, outstanding!!!

recipe....PLEASE!!!!

47 posted on 06/11/2005 6:55:02 PM PDT by paulat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: leadhead; Lil'freeper; FairOpinion; Coleus; MamaLucci
"And the wacko "health food" infomercial types will take this story, capsule up some unregulated crap and make millions"

And God forbid that they should cure people with "unregulated crap" instead of killing them with highly regulated prescription poison.

None of these natural substances has ever caused a single death, while deadly prescription drugs are responsible for over a million deaths per year, and continue to be protected by the FDA (federal death accelerators)

That the pharmaceutical companies have zero desire to cause a single cure is obvious from the Graviola story. This natural herb was fully researched, and found to be more than 75% effective against most forms of cancer, yet because they were unable to synthesize a patentable product that had similar properties, they hid their results from the world. Can you say satanic?

48 posted on 06/11/2005 7:26:19 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The Lord has given us President Bush; let's now turn this nation back to him)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: null and void; cyborg
"Does she make it with chicken nuts?"

Picked from organically grown chicken trees?

49 posted on 06/11/2005 7:45:59 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The Lord has given us President Bush; let's now turn this nation back to him)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: bert
"It won't kill mites however and the mites are wiping out the bee populations that produce the propolis"

Propolis in the hive is a very hard sticky substance that the bees use to seal off cracks and holes and have even covered mice that they have killed in the hive with it. The veroa mites you refer to do not ingest any of the propolis. They do however ingest the blood of the bees that make the propolis. The bees are also suffering from a mite that infects their trachea.

The bees are not producing the ingredients for propolis other than the wax that is part of propolis. The wax is secreted from glands on the abdomen. The bees are mainly gathering the ingredients from natural sources and mixing it for their special needs.

50 posted on 06/11/2005 7:51:15 PM PDT by fightu4it (conquest by immigration and subversion spells the end of US.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor
Nope. It's the left overs after you make capon.

Used to get it in the Kow Phad Gai at any Thai restaurant, now days they substitute chicken breast.

It's just not the same...
51 posted on 06/11/2005 7:52:37 PM PDT by null and void (Oh what a tag lined web we weave...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

Simmer chicken for an HOUR?? are you sure about that? I think you'd have rubber hockey pucks.


52 posted on 06/11/2005 7:55:57 PM PDT by paulat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

Thanks. Much appreciated.


53 posted on 06/11/2005 8:12:22 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
What if someone smokes it.

That's right, it would be illegal.

54 posted on 06/11/2005 8:16:08 PM PDT by demsux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA

Yumm, yumm.

Sounds delicious!


55 posted on 06/11/2005 8:32:59 PM PDT by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: fightu4it

"The veroa mites you refer to do not ingest any of the propolis. They do however ingest the blood of the bees that make the propolis. The bees are also suffering from a mite that infects their trachea."


How horrible! Is there a way to kill of the mites,without killing off the bees too?


56 posted on 06/11/2005 8:35:33 PM PDT by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Having seen the movie "Medicine Man", and heard rumors it was based on a true story, I was not surprised when I finally read about a South American plant called Graviola.

The drug companies have things they will never release. They can't patent them.


57 posted on 06/11/2005 8:53:34 PM PDT by djf ("Stop quoting the law. We have swords!" - Roman general Sulla)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
This is the great problem world wide. Tracheal mites, Varroa mites and several others have wreaked holy hell with European strains of honeybees for nearly two decades in the US alone.

Current widespread practices include the timed use of synthetic parathyroids and now, more commonly, an organophosphate. Formic acid has been used and laws vary regarding its use.

Essential oil (including camphor and menthol) preparations have been used with varying degrees of success and nothing approaching the short term effectiveness of the miticides. Various smoker fuels and fogging preparations have been used combined with a specially prepared bottom board to relieve and hold mites as they drop off host bees.

Longer term approaches with the greatest promise include IPM tactics and several breeding programs aimed at producing bees with genetic traits that target the mite at various weak points in their biological sequence.

Other measures have included drone trapping (drones larvae often hold breeding mite reservoirs in the colony), cell size manipulation, herbal sprays and manipulation of conditions inside the colony.

So far, the best defense has been good IPM practice including rigorous schedules with miticides when needed and frequent mite population surveys. Effective continuous use of sticky bottom boards and grease patties have beens shown to be of help by confusing mite host selection and aiding in mite removal as they drop during hive disturbances.

We ain't out of the forest yet, but we're coping. Over 60% of the commercial beekeepers that were in the business 15 years ago are gone. According to the USDA, pollination for critical crops in this country is now in the hands of hobbyists.
58 posted on 06/11/2005 8:57:23 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (NEW and IMPROVED: Now with 100% more Tyrannical Tendencies and Dictator Envy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

I eat raw bee pollen every day. I presume that it contains at least some propolis?


59 posted on 06/11/2005 9:01:18 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkingClassFilth

WOW!

Thanks for the details. I had no idea a mites are such horrendous problem and that it's so difficult to get rid of them.

I hope they'll be able to eradicate them.

Bees are one of the most useful creatures on earth.

Since you are so knowledgeable, do you know, how this started and became so wide spread?


60 posted on 06/11/2005 9:02:53 PM PDT by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson