New Research shows powerful tumor-destroying effects of Chrysanthemum extracts

Thursday, November 26, 2009 by: E. Huff, staff writer
Tags: Chrysanthemum, tumors, health news

(NaturalNews) A September research article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology endeavored to explain how Chrysanthemum indicum extract (CIE) works to fight cancer. Various studies have been released over the years illustrating the powerful anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, and neuro-protective effects of this powerful herb.

The Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China has formed a research team headed by Professor Zong-fang Li to study the working properties of CIE in order to pinpoint the source of the tumor-inhibiting effects. Along with treating vertigo, hypertensive symptoms, and infectious diseases such as pneumonia and colitis, CIE is highly potent in eliminating cancer.

The researchers who undertook the study examined the impact of CIE on both human and rat liver cancer cells, also called the MHCC97H cell line. In order to accomplish this, several control methods were utilized including trypan blue exclusion, MTT assay, phase contrast microscopy, flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential, and Western blotting.

What the team discovered was that CIE obstructs the malignant cell cycle while having no effect on the healthy cells, targeting only the cancer and inhibiting its growth. By way of the mitochondrial pathway, CIE employs the apoptotic effect on malignant cells, essentially programming them to die. Together, these processes work not only to halt the spread of cancer but to destroy it completely.

Though the precise mechanism behind CIE's anti-cancer effect remains largely unclear, the fact that it works so well in fighting cancer is an incredible breakthrough worthy of notice. Since CIE causes no cytotoxicity when administered, meaning it causes no negative side effects, it is a superb alternative to harmful, invasive cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

Clinical studies have shown that postoperative treatment of metastatic breast cancer with CIE results in a 5-year, overall survival rate of 70 percent, and a complete remission rate of 60 percent. When combined with other traditional Chinese medicines to treat advanced stage esophageal carcinoma, CIE achieves a 67 percent response rate.

Many natural plants and herbs contain powerful components that fight all kinds of maladies. Over 3,000 herbs have proven anti-cancer characteristics and many of them work best in combination with one another to achieve optimal results.

Since more than 60 percent of cancer drugs come from natural origins, it is a legitimate and worthwhile endeavor to continue examining, researching, and testing the positive effects of the world's native plants in order to discover their healing properties for use in medicine.

Sources for this story include
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-...
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/4538.asp