Arcadia Discussion Zone

Bugs cause millions of cancer cases



Bacteria, viruses and parasites cause around two million cases of cancer in the world each year, experts believe.

Of the 7.5 million global deaths from cancer that occurred in 2008, an estimated 1.5 million may have been due to potentially preventable or treatable infections.

Scientists carried out a statistical analysis of cancer incidence and calculated that around 16% of all cancers diagnosed in 2008 were infection-related.

The proportion of cancers linked to infection was three times higher in developing than in developed countries.

Key cancer-causing infectious agents include human papillomavirus (HPV), the gastric bug Helicobacter pylori and the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses.

These four were together believed to be responsible for 1.9 million cases of cancer, mostly gastric, liver and cervical cancers.

Cervical cancer accounted for around half of infection-related women's cancers. In men, more than 80% of infection-related cancers affected the liver, stomach and colon.

Study lead authors Dr Catherine de Martel and Dr Martyn Plummer, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, wrote in The Lancet Oncology journal: 'Infections with certain viruses, bacteria, and parasites are one of the biggest and preventable causes of cancer worldwide.

'Application of existing public-health methods for infection prevention, such as vaccination, safer injection practice, or antimicrobial treatments, could have a substantial effect on the future burden of cancer worldwide.'

The researchers used information from a number of sources, including a cancer-incidence database covering 27 cancers from 184 countries.

Commenting on the findings in journal, Dr Goodarz Danaei from the Harvard School of Public Medicine in Boston, wrote: 'Their estimates show the potential for preventive and therapeutic programs in less developed countries to significantly reduce the global burden of cancer and the vast disparities across regions and countries.

'Since effective and relatively low-cost vaccines for HPV and HBV are available, increasing coverage should be a priority for health systems in high-burden countries.'

Among the many phytochemicals that have interested me, as a clinician, is oleuropein (pronounced oh-lee-or-oh-pin), a substance found in the olive leaf. I, as well as other health practitioners, have found that a natural supplement of olive leaf extract contains substantial medicinal benefits. Among them, boosting the energy among patients and aiding in the treatment of herpes and other viral conditions, flu and colds, fungal infections, chronic fatigue and allergies. I have also been surprised by unexpected results generated by this supplement.

The researchers credit a number of unique properties possessed by the olive leaf compound for the broad killing power:

- An ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential for viruses.

- An ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses or by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane.

- The ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.

- In the case of retroviruses, it is able to neutralize the production of reverse transcriptase and protease. These enzymes are essential for a retrovirus, such as HIV, to alter the RNA of a healthy cell.

- It can stimulate phagocytosis, an immune system response in which cells ingest harmful microorganisms and foreign matter.

The research suggests that this may be a "true anti-viral" compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host. It thus appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics.

From research and clinical experience to date, we can say that supplemental olive leaf extract may be beneficial in the treatment for conditions caused by, or associated with, a virus, retrovirus, bacterium, or protozoan. Among such conditions are influenza, the common cold, meningitis, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles, HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, bacteremia, severe diarrhea, blood poisoning, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.

Olive Leaf Extract
A New/Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind
by James R. Privitera, M.D.







http://curezone.com/foods/oliveleaf.asp

TCJ, have you ever taken it when you're really sick?

Detroit, MI - Holy basil, part of the mint family, has been used in Indian home remedies for hundreds of years. Researchers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute were interested in studying the effects of the herb, which appear to have anti-oxidant, chemically induced cancer-inhibiting and anti-inflammatory properties, on human breast cancer using a mouse model system. So far, little research has been conducted into how Holy basil might affect human cancers. Today, Research-scientists at the Karmanos Cancer Institute announced findings of their study titled Inhibition of breast cancer progression by a medicinal herb Ocimum Sanctum at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in Washington, D.C.

“Our research shows that ocimum sanctum, also known as Holy basil, appears to inhibit the size and progression of the tumor in relation to breast cancer, and it also reduces the number of the blood vessels leading to the tumor without causing any harm to the healthy tissue and cells of the body, and has no side effects,” said Pratima Nangia-Makker, Ph.D., assistant professor (Res.), Tumor Progression and Metastasis Department, Karmanos Cancer Institute and presenter of the study. Restricting the number of blood vessels supplying a tumor, reduces the risk of the cancer escaping the primary tumor and metastasizing to other organs. It also acts to starve the cancer by blocking the tumor from receiving its supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing the cancerous cells to die.

Most importantly, Holy basil seems to offer significant protection against cancer and cancer-causing substances.

The Queen of Herbs...





http://www.karmanos.org/view_news.asp?id=347

Tulsi...

http://tinyurl.com/783wa73

Metastatic malignant melanoma is an extremely aggressive cancer, with no currently viable therapy. 4-Allyl-2-methoxyphenol (eugenol) was tested for its ability to inhibit proliferation of melanoma cells. Eugenol but not its isomer, isoeugenol (2-methoxy-4-propenylphenol), was found to be a potent inhibitor of melanoma cell proliferation. In a B16 xenograft study, eugenol treatment produced a significant tumor growth delay (p = 0.0057), an almost 40% decrease in tumor size, and a 19% increase in the median time to end point. More significantly, 50% of the animals in the control group died from metastatic growth, whereas none in the treatment group showed any signs of invasion or metastasis. Eugenol was well tolerated as determined by measurement of bodyweights. Examination of the mechanism of the antiproliferative action of eugenol in the human malignant melanoma cell line, WM1205Lu, showed that it arrests cells in the S phase of the cell cycle.

- In Vietnam and Cambodia, used in treatment of prostate and ovarian cancer. Also for prostatitis, uterine fibroids.

Studies
• Immunomodulatory: Study showed extract of C latifolium slightly enhanced neopterin production in unstimulated peripheral mononuclear cells with an effective reduction of neopterin formation in stimulated cells.
• T-Lymphocyte Activating: A novel in vitro and in vivo T-lymphocyte activating factor in Crinum latifolium (L.) aqueous extracts. The study suggests potential use of C. latifolium for treatment of cases of immunodeficiency as cancer, leukemia and AIDS.
• Mast Cell Stabilizing: Mast cell stabilizing effect of glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine isolated from Crinum latifolium – Effect of glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine from CL in vitro produced significant protection against mass cell degranulation as well as to sensitized mast cells challenged with a horse serum antigen. In vivo, it also provided protedtion against degranulation of mast cells. Results support is use in Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of allergic disorders.
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: A study in the International Hospital in Vietnam using extract cycles of 21 days-on/7 days-off reported a 92.6 % benefit measured by prostate size and clinical urologic evaluation.
• Anti-Viral: A monocot mannose-binding amaryllidaceae lectin from the bulbs of CL was found to be non-toxic towards African green monkey kidney epithelial cells and exhibited a significant antiviral potential against a strain of vaccinia virus in vitro.
• Anti-Tumor: A study on cold-hot aqueous extracts from Vietnamese CL showed inhibition of carcinogenesis in rats probably due to the influence of immunomodulating and anti-tumour plant alkaloids and other biologically active components in the plant decoctions.
• NF-kB Inhibitory Activity: 87 methanol extracts fof Vietnamese oriental medicine were screened for NF-kB inhibitory activity. Seven of the extracts, including C. latifolium showed strong to moderate inhibitory activity.
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: Study was done of softgel transformed from the dry glue of Crinum latifolium alkaloid for therapeutic effect in benign prostatic hypertrophy. Results concluded (1) softgels of CL are effective for treatment of BPH, and (2) the drug is safe, with little side effects.

The extracts of cinnamon and clove species also lately show exceedingly strong effects in clinical trials.

Eugenol Causes Melanoma Growth Suppression through Inhibition of E2F1 Transcriptional Activity



http://www.jbc.org/content/280/7/5812.abstract

Crinum latifolium Linn.
PINK-STRIPED TRUMPET LILY





http://www.stuartxchange.org/Lirio.html

Doc - your move ...

Q ---> h8!
Threatens a Q sacrifice, and Black already down a knight......think
I'll rest a bit and watch the recipes keep on coming.

This is a soothing soup with cooling, calming medicinal properties. The combined effects of the tiger lily, bamboo pith and wolfberry, which calm "liver fire" and relax the nervous system. The Vietnamese Chinese vegetarian cuisine has a long tradition of blending beneficial medicinal herbs with ordinary food items to create dishes that nourish the body, correct imbalances and pleas the palate, all in one dish

Ingredients : Serves 4

800 ml

1/2 teaspoon

1 tablespoon

50 g

6 pieces

8 pieces
Vegetarian soup stock, or plain water

Salt

Chinese wolfberry (L. Lycium chinesis)

Dried tiger lily buds (golden needles)

Black wood ear fungus

Dried bamboo pith, soaked in cool water

for 20 minutes

Method :
Bring the stock or water to boil with the salt.

Add the wolfberry, and let water return to the boil.

Add the flowers, wood ears and pith.

Bring soup to a full boil, cover, lower hear and simmer for 3 minutes.

Taste, adjust seasoning, then transfer to soup tureen and serve.

I've not heard of tiger lily being a food source

unpeeled ginger
8 whole cloves
5 star anise
2 cassia bark, about 10 cm (4 inch) in length/cinnamon sticks

...analysis of underivatized alkaloids from leaves of Crinum latifolium was
performed. From the identified 15 alkaloids, 9 were found for the first time in this plant. Almost all alkaloids belonged to the crinane type.

The pungent vanilloids, gingerol and paradol found in ginger, are very effective in killing cancer cells. They achieve this both by direct cytotoxic activity against the tumour and indirectly by inducing apoptosis in the cancer cells. Reducing tumour initiation and growth: The phytochemical zerumbone antagonises the processes of both tumour initiation and promotion. It does this by inducing antioxidant enzymes and by weakening the pro-inflammatory signalling pathways associated with communication between cancer cells.

We are on the topic of plants....but this is something really different about plants...
Their musical scales....I listened for a few moments and found it captivating!

http://www.in5d.com/amazing-singing-plants-phenomenon.html

You believe plants make musical sounds....?

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Environment/2012/05/16/Study_finds_plants_remember_750776.html

Study finds plants 'remember'

No one's talking about giving intelligence tests, but researchers say they've shown that plants have smarts - the sort needed to help them survive dry times.

Years from now the findings could lead to crops that are better able to withstand drought conditions. Already, studies on two crops have shown they too have short-term memory for surviving dry times, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher Michael Fromm said.

He contends his team's findings are the first of their kind in life forms above yeasts.

The outcome of Fromm's initial study, with a member of the mustard family, confirmed what many nursery professionals and home gardeners have observed: Stressing plants helps them adapt and aids them in surviving transplanting.

'It's important that it's in all plants, but the next part of the story will have to move the research forward,' Fromm said. 'There's no question this is a critical long-term problem. Drought tolerance is extremely important but it's also extremely difficult.'

He declined to name the two crops he and his team studied subsequent to work with Arabidopsis - the mustard plant - citing confidentiality issues with the peer-reviewed journal scheduled to publish those results later this year.

In the mustard plant research, Fromm and his team compared reactions of plants stressed by withholding water to those that got water. The ones that went without water - the trained or stressed plants - bounced back more quickly the next time they got dehydrated. Those that got water - the untrained or non-stressed plants - wilted faster and their leaves lost water at a faster rate than the trained ones.

There were changes at a molecular level when the trained plants were deprived of water again. When water was then made available, the changes reverted back to normal levels. That changed, though, after subsequent periods of drought as the plants 'remembered' their molecular response to stress.

'There's a connection between the environmental stress, the drought, and the plant response with not only physiological changes but developmental changes,' Fromm said. 'That's a decision the plant makes that we think this process can influence.'

Murray Coulter, a genetic biologist who taught at Texas Tech University for more than three decades, said Fromm's research isn't saying plants have a central nervous system and can think. But if it's just one gene that needs modifying, he said, he thinks the technology could be in crop fields in five years.

That would help producers in the world's largest contiguous cotton patch, on the South Plains.

'Having a dry season would not impact them economically,' Coulter said. 'The less water they use the more profit they make.'

2006, Mileece was commissioned by the London School of Economics to develop a “generative plant biofeedback system”. She discovered a way to make sounds out of the electromagnetic impulses of plants and is now creating a website to host data-streams from specimens all over the world.