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For Those Interested in the Research of Dr. Weston A. Price |
Interesting
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."
Unfortunately, neither of these naturally occuring substances can be patented. Thus the big drug companies won't spend a dime on research.
Cancer Resources—Cancer News, Cancer Conferences, Cancer Causes
In vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral effect of curcumin against melanoma cells
Great addition to the thread, thanks.
bump
bump for later
Yummy. Ping me when you post the recipe!
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.
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
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
I wonder if it will turn the skin yellow and the whites of the eyes yellow?
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.
Bump for later read.
Could you ping me too? I love exotic recipes.
Thanks!
TC, this thread may be of interest to you!
And the wacko "health food" infomercial types will take this story, capsule up some unregulated crap and make millions.
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For Those Interested in the Research of Dr. Weston A. Price |
Interesting
It won't kill mites however and the mites are wiping out the bee populations that produce the propolis
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.
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.
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.
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