Ginger ingredients reduce viability of gastric cancer cells via distinct mechanisms

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Oct 12;362(1):218-23 Authors: Ishiguro K, Ando T, Maeda O, Ohmiya N, Niwa Y, Kadomatsu K, Goto H

Ginger has been used throughout the world as spice, food and traditional herb. We found that 6-gingerol, a phenolic alkanone isolated from ginger, enhanced the TRAIL-induced viability reduction of gastric cancer cells while 6-gingerol alone affected viability only slightly. 6-Gingerol facilitated TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increasing TRAIL-induced caspase-3/7 activation. 6-Gingerol was shown to down-regulate the expression of cIAP1, which suppresses caspase-3/7 activity, by inhibiting TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation. As 6-shogaol has a chemical structure similar to 6-gingerol, we also assessed the effect of 6-shogaol on the viability of gastric cancer cells. Unlike 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol alone reduced the viability of gastric cancer cells. 6-Shogaol was shown to damage microtubules and induce mitotic arrest. These findings indicate for the first time that in gastric cancer cells, 6-gingerol enhances TRAIL-induced viability reduction by inhibiting TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation while 6-shogaol alone reduces viability by damaging microtubules.

PMID: 17706603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I don’t know much about Norwegian telly, but however soporific this is it has to be better than 99.9% US TV programming…

A televised, web-based randomised trial of an herbal remedy (valerian) for insomnia.

PLoS ONE. 2007;2(10):e1040 Authors: Oxman AD, Flottorp S, Håvelsrud K, Fretheim A, Odgaard-Jensen J, Austvoll-Dahlgren A, Carling C, Pallesen S, Bjorvatn B

BACKGROUND: This trial was conducted as part of a project that aims to enhance public understanding and use of research in decisions about healthcare by enabling viewers to participate in research and to follow the process, through television reports and on the web. Valerian is an herbal over-the-counter drug that is widely used for insomnia. Systematic reviews have found inconsistent and inconclusive results about its effects. METHODS: Participants were recruited through a weekly nationally televised health program in Norway. Enrolment and data collection were over the Internet. 405 participants who were 18 to 75 years old and had insomnia completed a two week diary-keeping run-in period without treatment and were randomised and mailed valerian or placebo tablets for two weeks. All participants and investigators were blind to treatment until after the analysis was completed. FINDINGS: For the primary outcome of a minimally important improvement in self-reported sleep quality (>/=0.5 units on a 7 point scale), the difference between the valerian group (29%) and the placebo group (21%) was not statistically significant (difference 7.5%; 95% CI-0.9 to 15.9; p = 0.08). On the global self-assessment question at the end of the treatment period 5.5% (95% CI 0.2 to 10.8) more participants in the valerian group perceived their sleep as better or much better (p = 0.04). There were similar trends favouring the valerian group for night awakenings (difference = 6.0%, 95% CI-0.5 to 12.5) and sleep duration (difference = 7.5%, 95% CI-1.0 to 16.1). There were no serious adverse events and no important or statistically significant differences in minor adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Based on this and previous studies, valerian appears to be safe, but with modest beneficial effects at most on insomnia compared to placebo. The combined use of television and the Internet in randomised trials offers opportunities to answer questions about the effects of health care interventions and to improve public understanding and use of randomised trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN72748991.

PMID: 17940604 [PubMed - in process]

Bad for follicles, good for tumors….

The plant alkaloid sanguinarine is a potential inhibitor of follicular angiogenesis. J Reprod Dev. 2007 Jun;53(3):573-9 Authors: Basini G, Santini SE, Bussolati S, Grasselli F

Sanguinarine (SA), a phytobiotic from Sanguinaria Canadensis, has been demonstrated to inhibit vessel growth. Current restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters have motivated addition of this alkaloid as a naturally appetizing feed additive for farm animals. However, concern may araise since angiogenesis is a fundamental event in ovarian follicle growth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential negative role of SA in follicular angiogenesis. For this purpose, we studied the effect of 300 nM SA on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by swine granulosa cells from follicles >5 mm and on the activation of Akt, the main effector of the VEGF signalling pathway. In addition, the potential interference of SA in vessel development was tested in an in vitro angiogenesis bioassay. SA inhibited both VEGF production and VEGF-induced Akt activation in swine granulosa cells. Moreover, it was able to block vessel growth induced by VEGF. Taken together, our results suggest that SA could be detrimental to follicular angiogenesis, and therefore supplementation of feed with this alkaloid should be carefully considered.

PMID: 17310078 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[Full-text PDF]

 A useful study for those who mistakenly believe “dairy is pro cancer” ….Full fat raw OG milk (if obtainable)  can be an excellent dietary ingredient for many people, including those with cancer diagnoses.

Calcium, Vitamin D, and Dairy Product Intake and Prostate Cancer Risk
The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Song-Yi Park, Suzanne P. Murphy, Lynne R. Wilkens, Daniel O. Stram, Brian E. Henderson and Laurence N. Kolonel
American Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access published online on October 8, 2007

High intakes of calcium and dairy products have been suggested to be related to prostate cancer risk. Such associations were examined in the Multiethnic Cohort Study (1993–2002) among 82,483 men who completed a detailed quantitative food frequency questionnaire. During a mean follow-up of 8 years, 4,404 total cases of prostate cancer were identified. In Cox proportional hazards models, no association was found between calcium and vitamin D intake and total, advanced, or high-grade prostate cancer risk, whether for total intake, intake from foods, or intake from supplements, among all male participants or among nonusers of supplemental calcium. No association of calcium or vitamin D intake was seen across racial/ethnic groups. In analyses of food groups, dairy product and total milk consumption were not associated with prostate cancer risk. However, low-/nonfat milk was related to an increased risk and whole milk to a decreased risk of total prostate cancer; after stratification, these effects were limited to localized or low-grade tumors. Although the findings from this study do not support an association between the intakes of calcium and vitamin D and prostate cancer risk, they do suggest that an association with milk consumption may vary by fat content, particularly for early forms of this cancer.

Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Chamomile Extract in Various Human Cancer Cells
Srivastava JK, Gupta S; J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Oct 17;

Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ), a popular herb valued for centuries as a traditional medicine, has been used to treat various human ailments; however, its anticancer activity is unknown. We evaluated the anticancer properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts of chamomile against various human cancer cell lines. Exposure of chamomile extracts caused minimal growth inhibitory responses in normal cells, whereas a significant decrease in cell viability was observed in various human cancer cell lines. Chamomile exposure resulted in differential apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal cells at similar doses. HPLC analysis of chamomile extract confirmed apigenin 7- O-glucoside as the major constituent of chamomile; some minor glycoside components were also observed. Apigenin glucosides inhibited cancer cell growth but to a lesser extent than the parent aglycone, apigenin. Ex vivo experiments suggest that deconjugation of glycosides occurs in vivo to produce aglycone, especially in the small intestine. This study represents the first reported demonstration of the anticancer effects of chamomile. Further investigations of the mechanism of action of chamomile are warranted in evaluating the potential usefulness of this herbal remedy in the management of cancer patients.

PMID: 17939735

Cast your minds back to April this year. Your herblogmaster was roundly criticized by some VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE in the herbal community for making nasty blog post comments about the fact that ABC/Herbalgram gave a research grant award to Eddie Ernst (The Norman Farnsworth Botanical Research Award). Although comments are disabled on Herblog, comments were made, one way or another, that suggested Herblog had been very MEAN and NASTY about Mark Blumenthal and his award to Eddie Ernst. Oh yes they were.

Here is an excerpt from ABC’s own press release at the time…

The Norman R. Farnsworth Botanical Research Award for 2006 was presented to Professor Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, Laing Chair in Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, United Kingdom for his extensive body of research publications on various clinical aspects of herbal medicine.

“Prof. Teuscher and Prof. Ernst are two major figures in the international herbal medicine research community,” said ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal. “They have each made significant contributions to the body of knowledge in this important and growing field of medicine. ABC is honored that they both have accepted our recognition of their accomplishments.” In presenting the eponymous award to Prof. Ernst, Prof. Farnsworth said, “Edzard Ernst has undoubtedly published more reviews and meta analyses than anyone, involving primarily botanicals and botanical products. These reviews are invaluable references to anyone involved in research in the area of Botanical Dietary Supplements.

Well right. So maybe Farnsworth has lost his marbles too? Invaluable references??? What a load of old bollocks. So now, let us wait and see how Herbalgram and ABC respond to Ernst’s latest “significant contribution”. Perhaps it was the ABC Award money that paid for the latest “research”?? C’mon Herbalgram - do tell us what you think … can you really stoop to apologize for this latest pile of crap? We are waiting with bated breath….meanwhile, i really promise not to be mean and nasty. honest. wink wink nudge nudge, know what i mean?

Oh no - Not again! This is SO OLD. The latest bucket of shite from the extraordinary one and only university of excrement fuckwits department headed by Ernst and his merry shit-stirring morons has got everyone going. Individualized herbal medicine does not work screamed multiple “intelligent” paper headlines (Independent, Guardian etc etc). The UK’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists published a whining press release “rebuttal” which received no airtime, and here in the US we will see attempts to make “reasonable criticisms” of the paper suggesting that Ernst et al are basically wrong of course but do make some good points about lack of evidence for herbal medicine etc etc
The latest so called “study” by Canter, Guo and Ernst which is causing all the hoo ha is entitled “A systematic review of randomised clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine in any indication” and is available for online download at the PMJ. It is only worth reading for the sheer front that permeates every aspect of the article. The only thing that is more pitiful than this study and its fuckwitted conclusion is the failure of so-called informed commentators, whether health journalists, herbalists or whatever, to seize the opportunity to educate the public about the utter dumbass nature of attacks on herbal medicine from the perspective of evidence based medicine by Ernst and his excrement department. Here is the Abstract…

ABSTRACT
Aim: To summarise and critically evaluate the evidence from randomised clinical trials for the effectiveness of individualised herbal medicine in any indication.

Methods: Search of electronic databases and approaches to experts in the field to identify randomised, controlled clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine in any indication. Independent data extraction and assessment of methodological quality by two authors and best evidence synthesis.

Results: Three randomised clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine were identified. Statistically non-significant trends favouring active over placebo treatment in osteoarthritis of the knee probably result from large baseline differences and regression to the mean. Individualised treatment was superior to placebo in four of five outcome measures in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, but was inferior to standardised herbal treatment in all outcomes. Individualised herbal treatment was no better than placebo in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced toxicity.

Conclusions: There is a sparsity of evidence regarding the effectiveness of individualised herbal medicine and no convincing evidence to support the use of individualised herbal medicine in any indication.

The bottom line is very simple. Evidence based medicine theory was NEVER intended by its originators to be reduced to “positive meta-analysis of randomized placebo controlled clinical trials.” Archie Cochran would be turning in his grave if he were alive. Sackett, the original EBM architect has refused to speak in public on the subject ever again. Ernst et al are living in a one dimensional psychotic phantasy of their own manufacture. Pensinsula medical school should be renamed Peninsula Loony Bin.
SO - on the basis of 3 lousy trials, judged by the authors to meet their “inclusion criteria” (criteria which are solidly based in the complete absence of understanding or experience with herbs of any kind, in any context, never mind clinical usage) and ironically which are actually NOT comparable since they are based on differing medical systems and scenarios (Chinese medicine for IBS, Chinese medicine and Mainstream Chemo drug-toxicity and Western Herbs and nutrients for Osteoarthritis) we learn that ALL individualized herbal treatments for ANY conditions do not work. Is everyone quite clear on this? get it? Do we need a balanced critique of this crap or should we be wondering of there is enough evidence for administration of antipsychotic drugs to these poor guys. I suppose we should feel sorry for them. But you know what - I don’t. They piss me off with their stupid smug press pandering conclusions and their mind boggling arrogant ignorance about herbs. You don’t exactly have to look very far to find three trials on pharmaceutical interventions for any conditions which show that drugs don’t work. You don’t have to look very far to find three drug trials that were stopped because the drugs were killing more people than the placebo. You don’t have to look very far to find three drugs that were licensed by the FDA and approved by clinical trial evidence that actually killed enough people so they eventually had to be “withdrawn” from the market. So what? I have better things to do than writing grants to pay myself a fat salary to point out that the overwhelming majority of modern medical interventions completely lack evidence based validation according to Ernst’s “criteria”; AND sure, most of their interventions don’t fucking work AND sure almost all of them are harmful. Get over it. DO something useful and relevant. The professional meta-study analyst is an entirely spurious regressive form of low life who needs to get a real job.

Post script - The included Mok study (Mok TS, Yeo W, Johnson PJ, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study of Chinese herbal medicine as complementary therapy for reduction of chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Ann Oncol 2007; 18: 768–74.) on Chinese herbs and Chemo toxicity is in fact interesting because it showed that the Chinese Medicine practitioners were able to counter the acute nausea and vomiting of emetogenic chemo - but were less good at presrving WBC counts ( a lab value that is not necessarily accessible in immediate pulse readings) but the study only “looked at” hematological toxicity alone - the nausea and vomiting improvements did not “count”. A classic example of why such studies are flawed. The negative “conclusion” conceals a positive result. Oh well.

Normal (child friendly language) herblog service will be resumed as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.