Artemisinin is a very important constituent in the herb Artemisia annua. It is already being used
to help treat malaria and parasitic infections and recent research shows that it selectively kills
cancer cells. In this study, researchers at the University of Washington treated rats with a cancer
causing chemical DMBA, which is known to cause multiple breast cancer tumors per animal. The next
day a group of the rats had artemisinin added to their chow (0.02%) and the second group didn't.
The animals were observed for breast tumor growth for 40 weeks. The animals that ate artemisinin had
a significant delay in the formation of breast tumors and there were significantly fewer tumors per
animal and they were smaller in size. The artemisinin cut the development of breast cancer
significantly and decreased the number of animals that developed breast cancer by 40%. The study is
published in the January 8th, 2006 issue of the journal Cancer Letters.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
At the start of this study the impact of the supplements Green Tea Extract and CLA were not
even thought of yet - studies show these both impact weight.
Alternative Medicine review issues monograph for Indole-3-Carbinol
A monograph is a detailed, systematic analysis on a particular nutrient that is well documented by
supportive research and very concise. Alternative Medicine Review is a journal examining the clinical
therapeutics of herbs and plant phytochemicals. This journal pulls no punches and is very fair in its
findings. According to the new monograph I-3-C (Indole-3-Carbinol) has received attention in recent
years as a promising preventive and treatment agent for breast cancer and other types of cancer.
I-3-C may have beneficial effects in the treatment of the various Herpes simplex viruses and the
human papilloma viruses. Preliminary studies have been conducted for its efficacy, safety, and dosage
and the studies are promising. The monograph appears in the December 2005 issue of the journal
Alternative Medicine Review.
Nutritional and therapeutic potential of Spirulina
Spirulina has diverse benefits and nutritional significance due to a high concentration of natural
nutrients. Ingredients in Spirulina improve the phagocytic activity of macrophages improving their
ability to gobble up infectious organisms and they stimulate the production of antibodies and
cytokines (cytokines are proteins released by immune system cells that help control immunity and
cause the regression of some cancers). They stimulate Natural Killer cell activity (these cells
patrol for bacteria and cancer cells) and activate and mobilize T cells and B cells. Spirulina
helps regulate blood fat and carbohydrate metabolism by normalizing blood levels of both cholesterol
and blood sugar. Spirulina helps correct levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood of diabetic
patients and in experimental animals. Spirulina has been found to be active against a number of
important viruses including herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus, the HIV AIDS viruses and Influenza
(the flu). Spirulina is capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis due to antioxidant activity that
protects tissues. Spirulina protects the liver, kidneys, and testes from toxicity. The review is
published in the October 2005 issue of the journal Current Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology.
