Posted on 02/03/2022 1:34:49 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Quebec scientists have discovered that the Brazilian camu-camu berry, already recognized for its protective effects against obesity and diabetes, can also help to treat cancers.
Bertrand Routy, an Université de Montréal's medical professor, shows one compound from the fruit can have a positive role to play in immunotherapy.
"With this research, we have proved that castalagin, a polyphenol acting as a prebiotic, modifies the gut microbiome and improves immunotherapy response, even for cancers resistant to this type of treatment," said Routy.
"Our results pave the way for clinical trials that will use castalagin as a complement to medications called immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients," added Meriem Messaoudene.
In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have given patients renewed hope that their immune systems can overcome cancer resistance by revolutionizing therapies targeting melanoma and lung cancer. This type of immunotherapy activates the immune system to kill cancer cells.
A hunt for new approaches
Despite these improvements, only a minority of patients have long-lasting responses to immunotherapy akin to a cure, so researchers like Routy have been on the hunt for new therapeutic approaches. Their ultimate goal is to turn an unhealthy microbiome into a healthy one in order to strengthen the immune system.
Among the strategies Routy has come up with is one that employs prebiotics, chemical compounds that can improve the composition of the gut microbiome.
"To evaluate the beneficial effects of castalagin, we orally administered the prebiotic to mice that had received a fecal transplant from patients resistant to ICI," he said. "We found that castalagin binds to a beneficial intestinal bacteria, Ruminococcus bromii, and promotes an anti-cancer response."
The discovery will soon be tested in patients thanks to the launch of the first clinical trial combining the camu-camu berry and ICIs.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
However, it is safe to have small amount of Camu-Camu, with is a berry from South America. It is the most concentrated form of naturally-available vitamin C in the world, though, and just a teaspoon of powder provides over 1,000% of the US RDA.
If not going above a tolerable dose of that powder, you could experiment along with the study participants, at least with some castalagin.
Health issues. Everyone’s looking for that magic bullet in the form of a pill. Why can’t they stick to Viagra?
Camu-camu
So good they named it twice.
Viagra is reported to have some strange side effects. For instance, Viagra combined with Rogaine will make your hair stand on end.
LOL, post of the day
The same key ingredient, castalagin, is found in oak, chestnut, and water apple leaves. Very few of these berries and super-foods have ingredients unique only to them. It is even found in wine aged in oak barrels.
Not just your hair or so I'm told.
Cami-Cami does things to my heart rate.
Bkmk
It does, Jeff... but only for 4 hours. :)
Bookmark
I guess they’ve milked the acai berries and Tahitian whateveryoucall it as much as they can. Time for a new miracle thingie. It’s natural!! An the lower Slobovians who eat it all live to age 130!
Any potential popularity will to some degree depend on how this berry tastes. Is is sweet, harsh, or flat line neutral as with Avocados? Does it need to be combined with other fruit juices to make it palatable? Does it smell like the infamous Durian of Thailand?
It’s supposed to be bitter.
Viagra was successfully used in a woman’s severe COVID-19 case
Durian — I’ve had fresh and frozen, and it tastes like a wonderful pudding. Its smell, unfortunately, is a combination of garlic and skunk.
The flesh is truly a wonderful thing to eat, though.
Bkmk
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