Recent research extracts

[herbsandhelpers]

Chinese herbal medicines as adjuvant treatment during chemo- or radio-therapy for cancer.

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital 
affiliated with Shandong University, Ji'nan, China. 

Numerous studies have indicated that in cancer treatment Chinese herbal medicines in combination with chemo- or radio-therapy can be used to enhance the efficacy of and diminish the side effects and complications caused by chemo- and radio-therapy. 

Therefore, an understanding of Chinese herbal medicines is 
needed by physicians and other health care providers. This review provides evidence for use of Chinese herbal medicines as adjuvant cancer treatment during chemo- or radio-therapy. 

First, Chinese herbal medicines (e.g. Astragalus, Turmeric, Ginseng, TJ-41, PHY906, Hushan injection, and Kanglaite injection) that are commonly used by cancer patients for treating the cancer and/or reducing the toxicity induced by chemo- or radio-therapy are discussed. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that these Chinese herbal medicines possess great advantages in terms of suppressing tumor progression, increasing the sensitivity of chemo- and radio-therapeutics, improving an organism's immune system function, and lessening the damage caused by chemo- and radio-therapeutics. Second, 
clinical trials of Chinese herbal medicines as adjuvant cancer treatment are reviewed. By 
reducing side effects and complications during chemo- and radio-therapy, these Chinese 
herbal medicines have a significant effect on reducing cancer-related fatigue and pain, 
improving respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea, 
nausea, and vomiting, protecting liver function, and even ameliorating the symptoms of 
cachexia. This review should contribute to an understanding of Chinese herbal medicines as 
adjuvant treatment for cancer and provide useful information for the development of more 
effective anti-cancer drugs. 

Biosci Trends. 2010 Dec;4(6):297-307. 

PMID: 21248427 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo: a randomized controlled trial.

Dermatological Sciences, Epithelial Sciences Research Group, The University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, 
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M6 8HD, UK. 

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiological, animal and human data report that lycopene has a protective effect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced erythema. OBJECTIVES: We examined whether tomato paste--rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant--can protect human skin against UVR-induced effects partially mediated by oxidative stress, i.e. erythema, matrix changes and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. 

METHODS: In a randomized controlled study, 20 healthy women (median age 33 years, range 21-47; phototype I/II) ingested 55 g tomato paste (16 mg lycopene) in olive oil, or olive oil alone, daily for 12 weeks. Pre- and 
postsupplementation, UVR erythemal sensitivity was assessed visually as the minimal 
erythema dose (MED) and quantified with a reflectance instrument. Biopsies were taken 
from unexposed and UVR-exposed (3 × MED 24 h earlier) buttock skin pre- and postsupplementation , and analysed immunohistochemically for procollagen (pC) I, fibrillin-1 
and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 
mtDNA 3895-bp deletion. 

RESULTS: Mean ± SD erythemal D(30) was significantly higher 
following tomato paste vs. control (baseline, 26·5 ± 7·5 mJ cm(-2); control, 23 ± 6·6 mJ cm(-2); tomato paste, 36·6 ± 14·7 mJ cm(-2); P = 0·03), while the MED was not significantly different between groups (baseline, 35·1 ± 9·9 mJ cm(-2); control, 32·6 ± 9·6 mJ cm(-2); 
tomato paste, 42·2 ± 11·3 mJ cm(-2)). Presupplementation, UVR induced an increase in MMP-1 (P = 0·01) and a reduction in fibrillin-1 (P = 0·03). 

Postsupplementation, UVR-
induced MMP-1 was reduced in the tomato paste vs. control group (P = 0·04), while the 
UVR-induced reduction in fibrillin-1 was similarly abrogated in both groups, and an increase in pCI deposition was seen following tomato paste (P = 0·05). mtDNA 3895-bp deletion 
following 3 × MED UVR was significantly reduced postsupplementation with tomato paste (P = 0·01). 

CONCLUSIONS: Tomato paste containing lycopene provides protection against acute and potentially longer-term aspects of photodamage. 

Br J Dermatol. 2011 Jan;164(1):154-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10057.x. Epub 
2010 Nov 29. 

PMID: 20854436 [PubMed - 
indexed for MEDLINE]

1. Carotenoid deficiency in chronic pancreatitis: the effect of an increase in tomato consumption.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carotenoids are potentially malabsorbed in patients with 
chronic pancreatitis (CP). The aims of this study were: (1) to determine the prevalence of low 
levels of each of the major carotenoids in subjects with CP; (2) to compare carotenoids in 
CP subjects with or without vascular disease and (3) to test the effect of an increase in dietary lycopene intake in patients with low plasma lycopene concentration. 

SUBJECTS/METHODS: Simultaneous determination of carotenoids was done in 80 patients with CP and 20 healthy subjects, using high-performance liquid chromatography. Of the CP 
patients who had low lycopene concentration, 22 (<120 g/l) had to consume daily 40 g tomato paste (approximately 24 mg lycopene). RESULTS: Of these patients, 84.7% had at least one carotenoid deficiency and 27.5% had more than four carotenoid deficiencies. Low plasma concentrations in -carotene and lycopene were correlated, in CP group, with a low body mass index (BMI), a low low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration, alcohol consumption and current smoking status, whereas low plasma concentration in - crytoxanthine was correlated with a low BMI, a low LDL cholesterol concentration and alcohol consumption. Lycopene concentration was decreased in patients with vascular disease (171±197 vs 99±72 g/l; P=0.02). After an intervention period of 8±2 months, lycopene concentration increased from 67.5±30 to 121.8±102 g/l (P=0.025). 

CONCLUSION: Carotenoid concentrations are dramatically decreased in CP, especially lycopene in CP patients with vascular disease. Despite malabsorption, it is possible to increase lycopene plasma concentration by increasing heated tomato consumption. 

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011 Feb;65(2):262-8. Epub 2010 DecPMID: 21119697

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]