Indian researchers find anti-cancer potential of two medicinal plants Bandicoot Berry and Indian allophylus, against prostate cancer. Bandicoot Berry is used in traditional medicine to relieve headaches, skin problems, body aches and for its antidiabetic, antidiarrheal and antidysenteric properties. Indian allophylus is used for treating bone fractures, inflammations, ulcers and wounds as a natural antiseptic.
Indian researchers have recently reported the anti-cancer potential of two medicinal plants Leea indica and Allophylus cobbe, against prostate cancer.
Leea indica, or Bandicoot Berry ( कुकुर जिह्वा in Hindi) is a large, evergreen shrub, native to tropical India, Bangladesh, China, Bhutan, and Malaysia. It is used in traditional medicine to relieve headaches, skin problems, body aches and for its antidiabetic, antidiarrheal and antidysenteric properties.
Allophylus cobbe, also called Indian allophylus, is a small shrub and commonly seen in the Western Ghats of India and used for treating bone fractures, inflammations, ulcers and wounds as a natural antiseptic. While these plant extracts have already shown cytotoxic properties on colon and breast cancer cells, this study is the first to examine the effects on prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer has an average diagnosis age of 66 years, with 6 out of 10 cases reported in men above the age of 65 years. It is generally treated through surgery, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Although these treatments are successful, the toxic side effects of these procedures are of great concern.
Alternative systems of medicines, like Ayurveda, promise zero side effects with desired benefits, forcing many to ‘go green’. It is not surprising that some herbal drugs prepared using plant extracts are already being used to treat cancer. In fact, Taxol, a famous chemotherapy agent used for different types of cancers was extracted from the bark of Taxus brevifolia.
The researchers of the study led by Dr. M.B. Hiremath, Associate Professor at Karnataka University, Dharwad, tested the extracts prepared by treating the leaves of the two plants in water, methanol and ethanol on cancerous cells of the prostate and found them to be very effective.
“During the study, we witnessed gradual deterioration of prostate cancer cells by undergoing morphological changes in shape and size and eventually reaching apoptosis (programmed cell death) after 72 hours of exposure to these natural extracts,” said Dr. Hiremath. The results of their study was reported in two journals – Cytotechnology and Integrative Medicine Research.
The researchers found the presence of a range of secondary plant metabolites like phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins in the leaves of the two plants. These metabolites have proven to be strong antioxidants that destroy harmful free radicals present in our body.
“Both the plant showed high phenolic content in our study. Interestingly, the antioxidant capacity of the plant extracts studied is also closely equivalent to the standard antioxidant agents like ascorbic acid,” explained Dr. Hiremath. They hope soon to test the efficiency of these extracts in humans through clinical trials.
“Our findings have shown positive results at in vitro level (outside human body). These outputs have given a positive stand point to take on further studies using living systems to establish the potential of these extracts to be used as therapeutic agent to fight prostate cancer,” said Dr. Hiremath.
Prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system, is a tiny walnut sized gland that performs the task of regulating the passage of semen and urine. The fluid secreted by the prostate gland makes up one third of the semen, protecting and nourishing the sperms. Urine and semen are released from the body through a tube like structure urethra that passes through the prostate gland, which controls this process with the help of numerous muscle fibres. Cancerous growth in such a vital organ can severely impact different physiological processes, besides life threatening.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, and the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths in developed countries. Characterized by difficulty and pain in urination, increased frequency of urination and blood in urine this condition also results in embarrassments to affected individuals as urine leaks out while coughing or laughing. It is estimated that by 2030, the burden of prostate cancer could be 1.7 million new cases and 499,000 fatalities, according to World Journal of Surgical Oncology. This year alone, the American Cancer Society has estimated 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer and 26,730 deaths in the United States.
