As the term implies, chemotherapy involves the introduction of chemical agents to fight disease, specifically cancer. Unfortunately, healthy cells are often destroyed along with cancer cells, leaving the patient with suppressed immunity and feeling fatigued. Science continues to explore natural alternatives to chemotherapy with encouraging results. However, if you've been diagnosed with cancer, it is imperative that you discuss all treatment options with a qualified health care practitioner experienced in the use of alternative and complementary therapies.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice obtained from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, a relative of ginger. According to the "Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice, demonstrates potent antioxidant effects by inhibiting lipid peroxide formation in the liver. More specific anti-cancer properties of curcumin compounds have also been studied. For instance, researchers from Chiang Mai University in Thailand investigated the impact of curcumin and other two other curcuminoids present in turmeric on matrix metalloproteinase-3, an enzyme that facilitates the spread of breast cancer in a cell line known as MDA-MB-231. Based on the results, which were published in the July 2010 issue of Archives of Pharmacal Research, the study team concluded that all of the compounds tested significantly inhibited expression of this enzyme in breast cancer cells.
A few months earlier, a different team of researchers from the same university reported in the European Journal of Pharmacology that the curcuminoid demethoxycurcumin, or DMC, exhibits several anti-cancer activities. DMC inhibits the breakdown of certain proteins involved in the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, such as matrix metalloproteinase-9. DMC also blocked the expression of other chemicals needed for tumor growth and spread, such as chemokine receptor 4. Further, DMC prevents NF-kappaB from binding to cell DNA, an event known to promote the release of matrix metalloproteinase-9, chemokine receptor 4 and several other compounds that contribute to cancer cell metastasis.
Ginger
Ginger has a long history of use in herbal medicine to treat a variety of disorders--most notably motion sickness, nausea and gastrointestinal complaints. More recently, scientists at the University of Calcutta in India have investigated ginger as a potential chemotherapy agent against human non-small lung cancer cells and cervical cancer cells. In the July 17, 2010 issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology, lead researcher Diptiman Choudhury wrote that liquid ginger extract showed a direct impact on the structure and function of cancer cell microtubules, the specialized proteins that form the matrix of the cytoskeleton of the cell. In addition, ginger induced apoptosis, or cell death.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a red carotenoid and antioxidant that naturally occurs in human skin and organs and also in many fruits and vegetables--most notably, tomatoes. Scientists from London's Imperial College reported in the July 21, 2010 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine that lycopene phytocomplex induced apoptosis in HL60 cells, a human leukemia cell line. In addition, the researchers found that pretreatment with lycopene phytocomplex increased the effectiveness of conventional photodynamic therapy cancer treatment better than vitamins C or E.
References
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines"; Thomas Fleming, Chief Editor, et al; 2000
- "Archives of Pharmacal Research"; The inhibitory effect of turmeric curcuminoids on matrix metalloproteinase-3 secretion in human invasive breast carcinoma cells; Boonrao M et al.; July 2010
- "European Journal of Pharmacology"; Demethoxycurcumin Suppresses Migration and Invasion of MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line; Yodkeeree S et al.; Feb. 10, 2010
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Aqueous Extract of Ginger Shows Antiproliferative Activity Through Disruption of Microtubule Network of Cancer Cells; Choudhury D et al.; July 17, 2010
- "Experimental Biology and Medicine"; Lycopene phytocomplex, but not pure lycopene, is able to trigger apoptosis and improve the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in HL60 human leukemia cells; Ettorre A et al.; July 21, 2010
