A few recent research abstracts from the LEF.org site. For your perusal.
- Eric
St Johns wort for depression
Full source: ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2000, Vol 160, Iss 2, pp
152-156
Articles with data on the efficacy, safety, and availability of St Johns
wort were studied and randomized, controlled, double-blind trials were
selected and assessed for methodological quality using a standardized
checklist, and data on pharmacology, cost, regulation, and safety were
extracted. Eight studies were identified, found to be of generally good
methodological quality, and determined to provide a modest amount of data
to suggest that St Johns wort is more effective than placebo in the
treatment of mild to moderate depression. The response rate with the use
of St Johns wort ranged from 23% to 55% higher than with placebo, but
ranged from 6% to 18% lower compared with tricyclic antidepressants. More
data are required to assess both its use in severe depression and its
efficacy compared with other antidepressants. Rates of side effects were
low. As a potent and useful dietary supplement, St Johns wort is currently
largely unregulated. However, the FDA is reviewing plans to tighten its
regulation.
Kava extract for anxiety
Full source: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 2000, Vol 20, Iss 1,
pp 84-89
Synthetic anti-anxiety drugs are effective for treating anxiety, but they
have many adverse effects. A review and analysis assessed the evidence for
or against the efficacy of kava extract as a symptomatic treatment for
anxiety. Systematic Literature searches were performed in the computerized
databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, AMED, CISCOM, and the Cochrane Library.
Experts on the subject were contacted to provide further information. The
results showed the superiority of kava extract over the placebo by all
seven reviewed trials. The analysis of three trials suggests a significant
difference (90%) in the reduction of the total score on the Hamilton
Rating Scale for Anxiety in favor of kava extract. The data imply that
kava extract is superior to placebo as a symptomatic treatment for
anxiety. Therefore, kava extract is an herbal treatment option for anxiety
that is worthy of consideration.
Use of complementary health practices with prostate cancer
Full source: CANCER, 2000, Vol 88, Iss 3, pp 615-619
There has been increasing interest in complementary health practices among
individuals, popular media, and even institutional health care providers.
A study of 50 individuals undergoing radiation treatment for prostate
cancer found that a surprisingly high proportion (37%) relied on
complementary health practices not prescribed by physicians. In contrast,
according to a separate survey of the treating physicians, the physicians
believed that on average only 4% of their patients resorted to such
practices. The use of complementary health practices usually continued
even after the initiation of definitive treatment for prostate cancer.
Those who used complementary health practices tended to have higher levels
of education and income, whereas there were no differences in age,
religion, perception of health status, stage of prostate cancer, or
prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. Herbal remedies were the most
frequently utilized, by 60% of those using complementary health practices,
followed by old-lime remedies (47%), high dose vitamins (41%),
chiropractic/ massage therapy and relaxation techniques (18% each), and
special diets (12%).
Effect of Ginkgo/drug combination on pancreatic cancer
Full source: Arzneimittel-Farschung-Drug Research, 1999, Val. 49, Is 12,
PP 1030-1034
A study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability as well as the quality of
life under treatment with a drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), combined with
ginkgo biloba extract (GEE) in 32 individuals with locally or metastatic
advanced pancreatic cancer. The treatment was repeated every three weeks
until progression. Response to therapy was evaluated after 2 and 4
treatment courses. Progressive disease was observed in 22 ( 68.8 % )
individuals, no change in 7 (21.9 % ) and partial response in 3 (9.4 % ).
The overall response was 9.4 %. Adverse events were judged as related to
the drug 5-FU and consisted of liver toxicity. In comparison with the
results of the studies with the drug, gemcitabine, the combination of
5-FU/GEE shows comparable response rates. The toxicity of the 5-FU/GEE
combination was low. The results suggest a good benefit-risk ratio of the
combination of the drug 5-FU and GEE in the treatment of pancreatic
cancer.
Selenium inhibits angiogenesis in breast cancer
Full source: Mol Carcinogen 99, Vol. 26, Iss. 4, Pgs. 213-225
The trace element nutrient selenium (Se) has been shown to possess
cancer-preventive activity in both animals and humans. The process of
angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels) is necessary for the
genesis and growth of solid cancers. A study examined if selenium exerts
its cancer-preventive activity, by inhibiting cancer-associated
angiogenesis. Increased selenium intake as selenium-enriched garlic,
sodium selenite, or Se-methylselenocysteine led to a significant reduction
of tumor density in breast cancers during continuous exposure for 7 weeks.
Also, there were significantly lower levels of vascular endothelial cell
growth factor activity in a sizeable proportion of the selenium-treated
cancers, compared to the control group. In contrast to the breast cancers,
the microvessel density of the mammary glands that were not involved, was
not altered by the selenium treatment. In cell culture, direct exposure of
human umbilical vein endothelial cells to selenium induced cell death
predominantly through apoptosis. The results indicate a potential for
selenium metabolites to inhibit key attributes (proliferation, survival,
and cell matrix degradation) of endothelial cells which are critical for
angiogenesis to begin. Therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis associated
with cancer may be a mechanism for the anticancer activity of selenium in
vivo.
Ginkgo biloba extract and peripheral arterial occlusive disease
Full source: Arzneim Forsch Drug Res 99, Vol. 49, Iss. 11, Pgs. 900-904
Several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba
extract in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. A study
that was conducted to confirm the superiority of the higher dosage of
Ginkgo biloba extract on 74 individuals indicated the superiority of 240
mg Ginkgo biloba extract daily compared with the standard dosage of 120 mg
to 160 mg daily. The primary efficacy criterion was the difference of the
pain-free walking distance between the start of treatment and after 24
weeks measured on a treadmill under standardized conditions. The pain-free
walking distance improved in both groups. There was a mean increase of
60.6 m in the group who received 120 mg Ginkgo biloba extract daily and a
statistically significant higher mean increase of 107.0 m in the group who
were treated with the higher dosage. Both dosage regimens investigated in
this study led to an improvement of the pain-free walking distance after
24 weeks of treatment. The superiority of the higher dosage over the
standard dosage was statistically significant. Both treatment variations
were safe and well tolerated.
Green tea extract decreases iron-induced free radical damage
Full source: J Nutr 99, Vol. 129, Iss. 12, Pgs. 2130-2134
Regular tea consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer.
Green tea contains catechins with antioxidant properties. In one study,
cells grown with or without green tea extract were treated with iron as an
oxidative stimulus for 2 hours. Supplementation with green tea extract
significantly decreased malondialdehyde production and DNA damage after
iron oxidative treatment. (Malondialdehyde is a lipid peroxidation
product, believed to be a marker of radical generation and tissue damage).
In cells untreated with green tea, there was no effect on membrane
distribution of (n-3) fatty acids due to iron treatment. It is likely that
the protective effects can be attributed to epigallocatechin gallate,
which is present mainly (670 g/kg) in green tea extract. This supports a
protective effect of green tea against free radical damage.
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