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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
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To: FairOpinion

Unfortunately, neither of these naturally occuring substances can be patented. Thus the big drug companies won't spend a dime on research.


21 posted on 06/10/2005 10:05:40 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: USNBandit
You bet. She is asleep just now, but I will get her to write it down tomorrow.
22 posted on 06/10/2005 10:09:37 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: FairOpinion; MamaLucci
Melanoma Research - Abstract: Volume 14(3) June 2004 p 165-171, June 2004

Cancer Resources—Cancer News, Cancer Conferences, Cancer Causes

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral effect of curcumin against melanoma cells

23 posted on 06/10/2005 10:10:49 PM PDT by Coleus ("Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isiah 5:20-21)
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To: Coleus

Great addition to the thread, thanks.


24 posted on 06/10/2005 10:12:12 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Mutually assured destruction STILL keeps the Clinton administration criminals out of jail.)
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To: FairOpinion

bump


25 posted on 06/10/2005 10:14:21 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Democrats haven't had a new idea since Karl Marx.)
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To: FairOpinion

bump for later


26 posted on 06/10/2005 10:15:22 PM PDT by Colorado Doug
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To: JimSEA

Yummy. Ping me when you post the recipe!


27 posted on 06/10/2005 10:19:42 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
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To: WorkingClassFilth

Interesting info, thanks.

But in respect to natural remedies, Europe is ahead of the US. Here they brainwash everyone, that only the FDA knows what's best for them.

There are many medications ( not just natural products) that are helping, healing people in Europe and they are not allowed in the US, because of the FDA.


28 posted on 06/10/2005 10:27:00 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: WorkingClassFilth

PS. Evidence is NOT only anecdotal.

Propolis has tremendous anti-infection qualities, I just came across an article that at the Univ of Minnesota they are studying it against AIDS and are getting promising results.

http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Propolis_an_ancient_remedy_may_fight_AIDS.html


29 posted on 06/10/2005 10:27:50 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: WorkingClassFilth

PS. Evidence is NOT only anecdotal.

Propolis has tremendous anti-infection qualities, I just came across an article that at the Univ of Minnesota they are studying it against AIDS and are getting promising results.

http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Propolis_an_ancient_remedy_may_fight_AIDS.html


30 posted on 06/10/2005 10:27:55 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: Thinkin' Gal

I wonder if it will turn the skin yellow and the whites of the eyes yellow?


31 posted on 06/10/2005 10:32:51 PM PDT by jonrick46
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To: FairOpinion

I heard about tumeric many years ago. There are many natural herbs, peppers, and supplements to keep us healthy.

God is wonderful and is willing to help us.


32 posted on 06/10/2005 10:41:56 PM PDT by television is just wrong (http://hehttp://print.google.com/print/doc?articleidisblogs.blogspot.com/ (visit blogs, visit ads).)
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To: FairOpinion

Bump for later read.


33 posted on 06/10/2005 10:44:03 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: JimSEA; TexasCowboy

Could you ping me too? I love exotic recipes.

Thanks!

TC, this thread may be of interest to you!


34 posted on 06/10/2005 11:12:11 PM PDT by Humidston (Yo, Hitlary... BRING IT ON!)
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To: upchuck
Unfortunately, neither of these naturally occuring substances can be patented. Thus the big drug companies won't spend a dime on research

And the wacko "health food" infomercial types will take this story, capsule up some unregulated crap and make millions.

35 posted on 06/11/2005 1:02:52 AM PDT by leadhead (Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups)
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To: FairOpinion; Poincare; Rytwyng; Colorado Buckeye; Sarah; since1868; nmh; Freebird Forever; ...
A Nutrition Ping List
For Those Interested in the Research
of Dr. Weston A. Price

Interesting

36 posted on 06/11/2005 4:57:41 AM PDT by Lil'freeper
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To: FairOpinion

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


37 posted on 06/11/2005 5:01:50 AM PDT by bert (Rename Times Square......... Rudy Square. Just in.... rename the Washington Post March??)
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To: FairOpinion

I agree that alternative medicines and therapies may have promise, but I do not agree that Europe is way ahead of us in anything - let alone the safety and/or efficacy of drugs and medications. There are plenty of horror stories from the both consequences of laxity and too great a stringency. I also agree that government agencies are not the do-all-end-all in any area. The problem is balancing quackery with prudence.


38 posted on 06/11/2005 12:17:20 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (NEW and IMPROVED: Now with 100% more Tyrannical Tendencies and Dictator Envy!)
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To: FairOpinion

I was given that article last year when I worked at the U of M and I was previously aware of this study and look forward to their results. Note that it is being studied for promising properties - not the same thing as an endorsement of propolis in general. For one thing, they are going to have a heck of a time developing a reagent grade propolis material because of the extreme degree of variability in basic resource use by the bees.

BTW, I use this exact article in some sales and promotional materials I keep on hand.


39 posted on 06/11/2005 12:21:09 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (NEW and IMPROVED: Now with 100% more Tyrannical Tendencies and Dictator Envy!)
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To: bert

There are other methods for coping with those problems and some longer term strategies in development. I am actually setting out to increase propolis production from all my colonies this year with some managerial and physical changes in my operations. We'll see how it goes.


40 posted on 06/11/2005 12:27:34 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (NEW and IMPROVED: Now with 100% more Tyrannical Tendencies and Dictator Envy!)
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