| ###Artemisinin(약쑥의 항말라리아 성분)-leukemia, colonca. inflammBowelDis, Malaria, PMS-ED-prolactinoma
한방에서 말라리아 치료에 오래전부터 사용되어 왔던 약쑥에서 추출한 성분인 Artemisinin이 철분과 반응하여 유독한 활성 유리기를 생성, 이 유리기가 암세포를 파괴시키는 효과를 나타내는 것이 밝혀졌다. 암세포는 빨리 증식하기 때문에 DNA복제를 위해 정상 세포보다 철분을 더 많이 사용하기 때문에 Artemisinin이 정상 세포에는 그다지 큰 영향이 없지만 철분을 대량으로 필요로 하는 암세포에는 암세포사멸과 같은 독성을 발휘한다는 것이 LAI에 의해 확인되었다. 백혈병세포내에는 정상세포보다 철분이 1000배 가량 높다.
앞으로 Artemisinin에 Transferrin과 같은 혈액내 철분 흡착 단백질을 부착시키는 등의 조작을 거쳐서 철분을 암세포에 공여하는 Transferrin이 Artemisinin과 상호 작용하도록 함으로써 암세포 파괴 효과를 증폭 유발시킬 수 있고, 특히 high dose vit.C IV, UBI 및 H2O2요법(=HOT)과 함께 사용시 특히 항암작용이 탁월하게 나타남이 입증되었다. 실제 인간의 정상 면역 세포와 백혈병 세포에 “Transferrin부착 Artemisinin"을 투여한 결과 백혈병 세포가 파괴되는 반면 정상 세포는 아무런 작용을 보이지 않았다고 한다. 즉, Artemisinin이 정상적으로 분열하는 정상 세포에는 영향을 주지 않으면서도 그와 달리 증식속도가 빠른 암세포에는 100배나 더 선택적으로 작용한다고 이들은 보고하고 있다. 더 나아가서 개발 중인 새로운 Artemisinin 유도체는 암세포 파괴능력이 34,000배 더 강력하게 작용하므로 앞으로 Artemisinin 유도체 개발로 그 작용력을 획기적으로 증대시킬 수 있을 것으로 전망하고 있다. 다음 단계는 동물실험과 인체 실험이 남아 있다 (자료: Life Sciences, January 28, 2005.)
Artemisinin은 오랫동안 항말라리아제로 쓰여 오던 약초인 Artemisia annua "sweet wormwood,” 의 주 효과물질이다.,
Artemisinin과 두 종류의 유도체들인 artemether 와 sodium artesunate는 1970년대에 개발되었다., 중국에서는 1979년에 P. viva and P. falciparum, Artemisinin환자들을 대상으로 거의 모든 환자들을 치료하는 쾌거를 올렸다. 게다가 Artemisinin은 거의 부작용이 없었고, 뇌말라리아에도 효과적이다. 환자들은 72시간내에 체온이 정상화되었고 asexual parasites들도 72 hours내에 제거되었지만 재발율은 21%였다..
베트남의 1-15세 아동을 대상으로, 경구quinine과 비교한 임상실험에서도 역시 유사한 성적을 보였다.
Artemisinin은 계속 베트남과 중국에서 백만명이상의 환자들을 대상으로 임상실험을 지속한 결과, 약제내성말라리아에 매우 도움됨이 확인되엇다.
적절한 용량은 초기에는 optimum total dosage of 3 grams (about 50 mg/kg) over a 3 to 5 day period으로 2일 이내에해열이 되었고, 주사제보다 경구제가 재발이 더 많았다. 재발한 경우는 다시 투여하거나 다른 약제를 사용하였다.
12년여전, Dr. Leo Galland and Dr. Herman Bueno는 broad spectrum antiparasitic agent로서의 이용에 대해 연구를 시작하였다. 그 결과로서 "Artemisinin은 강력한 산화제로서 경구투여시 Clostridium으로 인한 SIBO를 치료할 수 있고 동시에 berberine, grapefruit seed extract and oregano oil과 같은 Herb제제와 함께 사용하면 장내기생충치료제로서도 효과가 좋다 ”고 Leo Galland, MD.는 보고하였다
최근 들어 미국을 제외한 다른 나라들에서는 말라리아의 첫번째 치료제로 선호하고 있다.
지난10년동안에는 다른 허브들과 함께 암치료(특히 단독으로도 유방암 치료와 예방에 탁월함이 입증됨-항암효과+호르몬조절효과, 다른 허브제들과 함께 300mg BiD로 사용, 단독 사용시는 500mg BiD), 몸에서 괴사물제거(예 : 창상제거, 궤양성대장염, 크론씨병)에 사용되어 왔다.
"약쑥 자체가 PMS-cramping-excessive bleeding and all symptoms of hyper-estrogenemia(ED) and hyperprolactinemia(prolactinoma)의 치료에 매우 좋다 .” 고 Dr. Hoang, MD는 말한다.
***Artemisinin의 산소매개성 항암독성작용 :
1.그 자체에 peroxide그룹을 가지고 있기 때문에 이미 활성산소를 분자내에 함유하고 있는 것과 다름없다.
2. Artemisinin의 산소매개성독성의 다른 증거 : 실험실상에서 P. falciparum에 대한 항말라리아효과는 산소분압이 높을수록 강화되는데 활성산소효과를 이용해서 그 약효를 나타내는 miconazole and doxorubicin들은 artemisinin 대사물인 artesunate활성을 증가시키며, artemisinin의 효과는 catalase, dithiothreitol and alpha tocopherol을 투여시 저하됨을 통해 알 수 있다. --- 비타민E 결핍은 P. yoelii에 대한 artemisinin의 항말라리아효과를 증강시키지만 셀레늄결핍에 대해서는 그렇지 않았다.
3. Artemisinin은 oxygen and carbon based free radical mechanisms을 통해 작용함이 입증되었다.. --- 그 구조내에 endoperoxide bridge를 가지고 있다., Peroxides는 unbound ferrous iron에 노출될 때 Fenton type reaction으로 유리산소기를 생산해낸다. RBC내에서 자라는 말라리아는 철분을 과다보유할 기회가 많다. Electron microscopy상으로 보면 plasmodium membranes의 파괴는 전형적인 free radical mechanisms에 의한 것이다.
암세포들은 대개 세포내에 철분 농도가 높다는데에 착안하여 Henry Lai and Narenda Singh ( the University of Washington)들은 실험실에서 암세포에 대한 artemisinin이용에 관심을 가지게 되었고 드디어 항암효과에 대한 지평이 열려지게 되었다.
이로 인해 암세포에 관한 공통적인 다른 지식들이 더해졌고, 생체내에서 artemisinin에 듣는 암세포군이 무엇인지를 알게 되었고, 나아가 암세포들은 정상세포보다 transferren receptors 를 통한 iron fluxes가 매우 높고, 암은 산소라디칼에 취약함이 확인되었다.
2001년, Singh and Lai는 Life Science 지에 on the selective toxicity of artemisinin and holotransferrin towards human breast cancer cells라는 제목으로 기고하였는데, 방사선치료저항성유방암에 holotransferrin을 주어 iron을 공급한 암세포에 artemisinin을 주고8시간 동안 incubation시켰을 때 신속하고도 완전한 암세포 사멸이 일어났지만 정상세포는 큰 변화가 없었음을 보고하였다.
Artemisinin은 ferrous iron존재하에 세포독성이 나타난다. 암세포에서는 정상세포와 달리 iron influx가 매우 높기 때문에, artemisinin and its analogs는 선택적으로 생체내에서 암세포를 죽일 수 있는 것이다. 게다가 인체는 철분이동에 관여하는 단백질들을 계속 공급하기 때문에 holotransferrin이 필요 없게 된다.
Efferth et al은 2001년 Oncology에 antimalarial artesunate가 또한 항암제내성인 암에 대한 항암작용이 있음을 보고했다.
Artesunate (ART)은 is a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin의 반합성유도체로 적어도 55종류의 암세포에 대한 항함력이 있음이 확인되었다. 그중 가장 효과적인 것은 백혈병과 대장암이다. 비소세포폐암이 가장효과가 적고, 중간에 해당되는 것들에는 melanomas, breast, ovarian, prostate, CNS, and renal cancer등이 있다. 매우 중요한 것은 ART가 항암약제만큼 암세포독성이 강하다는 사실이다. doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate, or hydroxyurea등의 약제에 내성인 백혈병세포에서조차 ART내성은 없었다. 그합당한 이유로서 ART에는 그 구조내에 3차아민기가 없기 때문으로 생각하고 있다.
###Cancer Cells Are Deficient in Antioxidant Enzymes
***암세포에 결여된 항산화효소들의 종류 --- 보통의 화학요법제들은 superoxide generators로 작용하여 이들을 증가시키는 방법으로 항암효과를 얻어낸다.
1. 미토콘드리아 내의 Mn-SOD, 세포질내의 Zn, Cu-SOD
2. (H2O2분해 소거에 관여하는) catalase and glutathione peroxidase, 16
*** 항암효과를 나타내는 산화제로서의 H2O2나 Superoxide가 관계된 암세포 분열주기는 reproductive Phase로서, 특히 세포내로의 높은 iron fluxes가 그 특징인데, 정상세포와는 달리 암세포나 변형된 세포내에는 Catalse가 없으므로 이 때 influxed iron의 산화가 일어나 버리게 되면 unbound iron이 증가되어 세포분열에 이용될 수가 없게 되는 일명, 산화제 취약성이 극적으로 나타남으로써 암세포가 사멸된다. 이는 H2O2요법이나 high dose Vit.C IV 요법 때에도 동일하다.
***Dr. Hugh Riordan은 "Killer Concentration"에 이르는 very high doses of IV vitamin C를 투여했을 때, 암세포의 유일한 먹이인 Glucose uptake를 competitive inhibition하는 것도 있지만, 일단 암세포내로 흡수된 비타민C는 H2O2로 변환되어 Catalase가 없는 암세포에 Killer로 작용하여 항암효과를 나타낸다고 하는 것 같다고 보고하였고 이는 보완의학에서 very high doses of IV vitamin C의 항암효과에 있어서 또하나의 근거가 된다.
***Artemisinin은 또한 매우 효과적이면서도 가장 쉬운 항암요법제로서 암세포에 a knockout oxidative stress를 제공한다.
Artemisinin은 경구 투여시 항말라리아효과에 대해 pharmacodynamics, dosage 및 toxicity 가 잘 연구되어 있다. Artemisinin은 매우 안전영역이 넓어서 짤은 기간 사용시는 70 mg/kg per day의 매우 높은 용량에서도 거의 부작용이 없는 상대적으로 안전한 제제이다.
Artemisinin에는 두가지semisynthetic derivatives가 있는데, Artesunate은 수용성으로서 상용량에서는 독성이 없지만 혈중반감기가 너무 짧은 단점이 있다. Artemether는 지용성으로서 뇌말라리아에 사용되는데, BBB를 통과하므로 뇌암에 특히 효과적일 수 있지만 실험실상에서 상대적 고용량을 투여 했을 때 신경 독성이 야기됨이 보고되었다. Artemisinin은 반감기도 두가지 사이의 중간정도이고, BBB도 통과할 수 있다. 위의 두가지 반합성유도체들은 미국외에서 경구용 및 주사제로서 시판되고 있다.
***위에 언급한대로 As mentioned, Lai는 Artemisin을 투여했을 때 체내활성형대사물인 dihydroartemisin의 산화제 특성에 대한 암세포의 민감도를 더욱 강화하기 위해 iron-loaded transferrin인 holotransferrin을 만들어 사용했는데, 사람 백혈병세포배양물인 Molt-4-lymphblastoid cells, and normal human lymphocytes를 실험대상으로 사용했다. 그 결과 artemisin만으로도 유의하게(p<.035.) 모든 세포라인에서 숫자가 감소했고, transferrin과 dihydroartemisin 을 동시에 투여한 경우 그 효과는 더욱 컸다. 또한 실험실 결과 보다 생체내투여 할 경우 훨씬 적은 용량에서도 효과는 유지되리라고 판단하였다. Lai는 특히 aggressive cancers의 치료에 있어서 암세포표면에 transferrin receptors가 많이 노출되기 때문에 이 방법은 극히 효과적일 것으로 제시하였고, transferrin receptors가 internalization되는 T cell leukemias등은 잘 안들을 것으로 예측하였다.,12
###Case reports
1. 47세 남자, 두부우측부 확진된 비호지킨성임파종 - artesunate 60mg 근주 14일간 시행, 고단백-고야채식단 시행 - 6개월 후 완치.
Patient D.A. a 47 year-old mechanic who presented with a 4.5 cm. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the right side of his head, with gaping incision from a recent biopsy, and tremendous inflammatory erythema. Artesunate, 60mg was administered IM 14 consecutive days and he switched diets to high protein/vegetable (Kelley parasympathetic type diet). At the end of two weeks, a depression appeared at the apex of the tumor. Four weeks later, the mass was completely gone, skull surface smooth, incision totally healed and erythema virtually cleared. Apparantly cancer-free as of this writing 6 months later.
2. 83세 여자, 비소세포성 폐암(우하엽) -심부전으로 인해 절제할 수 없었음. artemisinin 500mg 하루2회, 더불어서 네뷸라이져를 통해 하루 2번5CC씩 carnivora 경구투여 --->4개월 후 완치 판정..
Patient V.M. an 83 year old Toronto resident. Healthy most of her life, she now had a non-small cell lung carcinoma in the right lower lobe, considered non-resectable because of heart failure and circulatory problems. She received Artemisinin 500mg BID from Allergy Research Group and Carnivora oral, via nebulizer, 5cc BID. In 4 months the tumor shrunk to 1x2 cm and her oncologist felt this represented scar tissue and declared her cancer free. (Her heart condition improved considerably with CoQ10, 600mg daily).
3. 47세 알라스카 거주여자, 유방암4기-1번흉추 전이로 인한 통증 심각, 인슐린강화요법+고용량비타민C요법, 보충제, dendritic cell vaccine, 고단백/고야채식단, 독소제거치료 --->4개월 후 통증 소실-->artesunate IV + 경구 artemisinin 300mg하루2회 6개월 후 완치.
Patient D.E., a 47 year-old Alaska resident with stage 4 breast cancer and metastases to T1 with significant pain, vertebral collapse and local neurological impairment. First seen May 2001, she received a series of IPT (insulin potentiation therapy-low dose chemotherapy), high dose vitamin C infusions, supplements, and dendritic cell vaccine, dietary management (Kelly sympathetic type diet), and detoxification strategies. Most symptoms had cleared within 4 months (October 2001). In January 2002, she received artesunate IV (source: mainland China), plus oral artemisinin 300 mg BID (ARG and Wellcare Pharma) which has been continued. Six months later she was happy to report she has no symptoms whatsoever and is living a normal life. Her local provider believes the regressed mass is now scar tissue.
4. 81세 캘리포니아 남자, 다발성 피부암-4회 재발, 국소artemisinin 요법(DMSO+artemisinin1캡슐) 하루 2회 시행 5일 지나서 제일 큰 병변 탈락소실, 나머지들도 위축되어 사그러짐
Patient F.A., an 81 year-old Californian with multiple skin cancers including one active recurrent quarter-sized lesion that had been burned 4 times previously. Topical artemisinin (one capsule ARG artemisinin in 50% DMSO) applied twice daily caused the large lesion to fall off within 5 days and other smaller skin cancers to regress. His wife reported the same with her skin cancers.
5. 40세여자, 유방암 흉추척추전이, 방사선치료받고서 의뢰됨, artemisinin-diet-제독치료-Kelly type proteolytic enzymes 을 동시에 시작, 2주째에 통증 소실 -->4개월째에 전이병소 소실되고 완치.
L.L. is a West Coast woman in her 40's with breast cancer and extremely painful metasteses all over her spine. She had received limited radiation therapy to reduce the pain in the thoracic spine prior to consulting me. She began artemisinin, and a variety of complementary strategies, including diet, detoxification and Kelly type proteolytic enzymes (from Allergy Research Group). Immediately, her energy exploded. Her pain level took a dive when she received treatment from an Edgar Cayce Foundation healer. Her comment after two weeks on artemisinin was "Last week I thought I was dying, and today for the first time in months, I believe I am going to live." Four months into therapy using oral supplements alone (no IV therapy), diet and detoxification strategies, a PET scan, the most efficient and sensitive study for spread of cancer, did not show any activity anywhere in her spine, even in places that were present before and not radiated! Further, the scan did not confirm definite cancer activity anywhere else!
모든 환자는 조식전, 석식전 공복에 artemisinin을 복용, 더불어서 CLA and/or W3 보충제 및 유기농유제품을 복용함, 위내에 철분이 있을 때 artemisinin을 쓰게 되면 그 치료효과가 떨어짐..All patients who took oral artemisinin did so in the morning and evening on an empty stomach with either conjugated linoleic acid and/or omega 3 supplements and/or some full fat cultured organic dairy product to enhance absorption. Simultaneous iron in the stomach might neutralize its effectiveness.
###Conclusion
Artemisinin은 30년간 베트남과 중국에서 암치료제로 사용되어왔고 그 효과는 이미 입증되어 있다.
artemisinin의 직접적인 항암효과는 비타민C고용량정주요법과 매유 유사하다는 것은 매우 흥미있는 일이다.
암치료에 있어서 artemisinin의 잠재적 잇점은 매우 단순하고, 안전하며 암세포파괴와 관련된 활성산소유발기전임이 잘알려져 있다는 데 있다, 하지만 다른 종류의 산화제 활성을 증강시키는 산소활성요법들(such as carnivora, ultraviolet blood irradiation, H2O2, or higher oxygen tension itself)들도 상당한 synergism을 가져온다. 또한 artemisinin에 free radical mechanisms을 통해 세포독성을 유발시키는 저용량 항암제(such as doxorubicin)을 함께 쓰는 것도 안전하게 효과를 높이는 길이 될 것이다.
Hoang Family의 의사들은 약400여명을 artemisinin과 포괄적인 항암요법(detoxification, diet, immune support, spiritual work, etc)을 병용해서 약50-60% 의 Remission을 보고했는데 부작용은 없었다.
Correspondence:
Robert Jay Rowen, MD
95 Montgomery Dr., Suite 220
Santa Rosa, California 95472 USA
Email: drrowen@sonic.net
Web site: www.doctorrowen.com
###References
1. Klayman D. Qinghaosu (Artemisinin): Antimalarial Drug from China. Science, 1985, Vol. 238, May 31, p.1049
2. China Cooperative Research Group on Qinghaosu and its Derivatives as Antimalarials. J. Trad. Chin. Med 2, 17, 1982.
3. Keith Arnold, Tran Tinh Hien, Nguyen Tran Chin, et al. A randomized comparative study of artemisinine suppositories and oral quinine in acute falciparum Malaria.
4. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (1990) 84:499-502.
5. Bharel S, Gulati M, Abdin P, Srivastava S. Structure biosynthesis and functions of artemisinin. Fitoterapia Vol LXVII No 5, l996.
6. Gulati A, Bharel S, Srivastava M, Abdin MZ. Experimental Studies on Artemisia, an herbal remedy for malaria. Fitoterapia Vol LXV11 No 5, 1996.
7. Hien T, White N. The Lancet 1993 Vol 341 March 6 p 603-651.
8. Personal communication from Dr. Hoang, M.D., 2002.
9. Ames JR, Ryan MD, Klayman DL. Charge transfer and oxy radicals in antimalarial action. J. Free Rad Biol. Med 1985, 1:353-61.
10. Krungkrai SR, Yuthavong. The antimalarial action of Plasmodium falciparum of qinghaosu and artesunate in combination with agents which modulate oxidant stress. Trans. R Soc. Trop. Med Hyg 1987, 81:710-4.
11. Levander OA, Ager AL, Morris VC. Qinghaosu, dietary vitamin E, selenium and cod liver oil: effect on susceptibility of mice to the malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelii. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1989; 5:346-52.
12. Lai H., Narendra S. Cancer Letters, 91:41-46, 1995.
13. May WS. J Membr. Biol., 88:205-215, 1985.
14. Singh NP, Lai H. Life Sci Nov 21, 70(1):49-56, 2001.
15. Efferth T, Dunstan H, Sauerbrey A, Miyachi H, Chitambar CR. Antimalarial artesunate is also active against cancer, Oncol. 2001, Apr;18(4):767-73.
16. Levine SA, Kidd PM. Antioxidant Adaptation: Its Role in Free Radical Pathology. Allergy Research Group, San Leandro, California, 1985.
17. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Special Edition, 1999.
@@@Artemisinin (Wormwood) - From Malaria To Cancer
Many marvels of modern medicine are discovered by accident. Some of these include: -
1. The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming.
2. The use of saw palmetto to prevent benign prostate enlargement.
3. Digoxin to enhance cardiac function.
4. Gingko to reduce vascular viscosity and increase blood flow.
Recently, another ancient herb called artemisinin was discovered. History documentation showed that it was used to treat intestinal parasitic infections, hemorrhoids (its an anti-inflammatory) and malaria as early as 2000 years ago.
##THE USE FOR MALARIA
This treatment for malaria was, however, lost over time. It was only rediscovered in an archeological dig in the 1970s where its medicinal use was found in a recipe inside a tomb. The formula was dated back to 168 B.C. where the Chinese chemist isolated the primary active ingredient from the leafy portion of plant called A. annua L.
In 1972, scientists in the West called this crystalline compound "qinghaosu" or "artemisinin". Since then, studies in China and Vietnam have confirmed that artemisinin is a highly effective compound with close to 100 percent response rate for treating malaria. It has the ability to destroy the malaria parasite by releasing high doses of free radicals that attack the cell membrane of the parasite in the presence of high iron concentration. In fact, over one million malaria patients have been cured via this method. Their symptoms also subsided in a matter of days.
However, the treatment using this herb to treat malaria is not approved for use in the U.S.A due to the concern that it has a 21 percent recrudescent rate. Scientists believe that this is more likely due to patients not taking the compound for a long period. Many of them actually stop taking it as soon as their symptoms subside.
Artemisinin comes in a few derivatives, including the oil soluble artemether, which has been found to induce neurotoxic symptoms in animals in high dose (but not reported in humans). For those who are technically inclined, the activities of all artemisinin derivatives are dependent on their internal endoperoxide bridge. It is therefore a close relative of hydrogen peroxide therapy. While the exact mechanism is still under intense research, it has been shown that this herb works via highly reactive oxygen-based free radicals that becomes activated in the presence of iron. Iron is an oxidant, and our body tries to protect us from excessive iron moving it to a binded state such as hemoglobin and enzymes. The malaria parasite accumulates iron by infecting iron-rich red blood cell. Excessive iron that is spilled onto the surrounding tissues will activate the artemisinin to generate a burst of free radicals that attack the iron rich cells, killing the parasite in the process.
In other words, this compound works well in an iron rich environment (remember that malaria lives in the red blood cell rich in iron) through the release of free radicals that serve to damage the malaria organism. It is also interesting to note that drugs known to work by enhancing oxygen radical effects such as doxorubicin can enhance the effects of artemisinin.
For malaria, there is no resistance nor toxicity at the dosage of 3 grams, (about 50mg/kg) administered over a 3 to 5 day period. It is especially useful in the treatment of drug resistant malaria.
Outside of the United States, artemisinin is the number one natural herb used for malaria treatment.
##THE USE FOR CANCER
So far, the most extensive study on the use of Artemisinin as an anti-cancer agent was carried out by bioengineering scientists Drs Narenda Singh and Henry Lai of the University of Washington. This study was reported in the Journal Life Science (70 (2001): 49-56).
Iron is required for cell division, and it is well known that many cancer cell types selectively accumulate iron for this purpose. Most cancers have large number of iron attracting transferring receptors on their cell surface compared to normal cells. In laboratory studies of radiation, resistant breast cancer cells that has high propensity for accumulating iron revealed that artemisinin has 75 percent cancer cell killing properties in a 8 hours and almost 100 percent killing properties within 24 hours when these cancer cells are "pre-loaded" with iron after incubation with holotransferrin. On the other hand, the normal cells remained virtually unharmed. Another study showing the effectiveness of artesunate in treatment of cancer was also published in Oncology (April 2001: 18(4): 767-73).
The fact that iron content of cancer cells is high has also been used in another anti-cancer therapy called Zoetron therapy, where iron containing cancer cells are induced into motion using a magnetic device to induce resonance. Resonance generate heat. Cancer cells are more sensitive to heat compared to normal healthy cells. When cancer cells are heated to a certain temperature, they die while normal cells still survive.
Artemisinin is effective against a wide variety of cancers as shown in a series of successful experiments. The most effective is leukemia and colon cancer. Intermediate activities were also shown against melanoma, breast, ovarian, prostate, CNS and renal cancer. Although artemisinin is insoluble in water, it is able to cross the blood brain barrier (the water soluble artesunate is the weakness among the derivates) and may be particularly suitable for curing brain tumors, together with Poly-MVA (an metalo-vitamin)
In laboratory studies, iron needs to be added to enhance the effects of artemisinin. Within the human body, no such addition is necessary, as iron already exist in the body. It can also be taken orally and therefore high doses are not required. Some people believe that as nitrogen (tertiary amine) is absent in ART, cancer cells cannot get rid of it once it enters into the cancer cell. As a result, ART stays in the cell much longer.
In addition to the high affinity for iron in aggressive cancer cell types, most cancer cells also lack the enzyme catalayse and gutathione peroxidase. Catalayse breaks down hydrogen peroxide. A low catalayse content means a higher hydrogen peroxide load, which can release superoxide free radicals when properly stimulated to do so. This is in fact one common mechanism among chemotherapeutic agents as well as vitamin C. These traits make cancer cells more susceptible to oxidative damage as compare to normal cells in the presences of hydrogen peroxide. For this reason, administration of vitamin C in high dose is acceptable, although a gap of 2-3 hours is preferred.
According to Dr Rowen , a naturally oriented medical doctor and editor of the medical newsletter " Second Opinion" , the Hoang family of physicians in Vietnam had used arteminisin in the treatment of cancer for years. They have reported that, over a 10-year period, more than 400 patients were treated with artemisinin in conjunction with a comprehensive anti-cancer program with 50 to 60 percent long-term remission rate. The safety record of artemisinin has well been studied for over 25 years. No significant toxicity in short-term use for malaria at high dose of up to 70 mg/kg per day has been reported.
Artemisinin is not a stand-alone chemotherapeutic agent. A combination of nutritional supplements (such as green tea, CoQ10 and pancreatic enzyme) as well as a good anti-cancer diet is required.
ART may be administered orally, with a 32 percent bioavailability as compared to injections. It is highly bound to membranes. Laboratory measurement of its serum level is therefore not exact.
##Forms of Artesminin
There are three common forms of artemsinin. The water soluble form is called artesunate . It is the most active and the least toxic. It also has the shortest life within the body Artemether is the lipid soluble form. It has the longest life but also the most toxic in high dosage which is seldom needed. The biggest advantage of artemether is that it can cross the blood brain barrier. Artemisinin is the active parent compound of the plant. It's half-life is intermediate. It is also very safe, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Some clinicians prefer to use a combination of all three forms, while others tend to favor the use of artemisinin alone with great success.
##TOXICITY AND SIDE EFFECTS
High doses of artemisinin can produce neurotoxicity such as gait disturbances, loss of spinal and pain response, respiratory depression, and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest in large animals.
In human beings, there are very few reports of adverse effects except for one case of first-degree heart block. According to Robert Rowen, MD, there is a dose related decrease in reticulocyte count for 4 days after artesunate or artemether at doses of 4 mg/kg per day for 3 days. However, the count returns to normal by day 14. When artemisinin suppositories are used, doses as high as 40 mg/kg per day have no effects on the reticulocyte count. In a study, it was reported that up to 35 percent of the volunteers had some form of transient drug induced fever.
When ART is tested with monkeys, they showed no toxicity when they received up to 292 mg/kg of artemether over 1 to 3 months. This is equal to a human dose of 20,000 mg for a 70 kg male (Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2(1):31-36 1982). In another study, there was also no sign of toxicity in over 4000 patients. This does not exclude possible cases of long-term cumulative toxicity which is unknown at this time.
##CAUTIONS
a. No artesminin should be taken within 30 days of radiation therapy because of possible free iron leaks to the surrounding tissues after radiation therapy.
b. Preliminary laboratory studies include: CBC, reticulocyte count, liver function test, ferritin, TIBC, ESR, C reactive protein, and appropriate tumor markers. If the iron load is low, supplementing iron for a few days can be considered prior to starting artemisinin.
c. Tumor markers may increase during the initial stages as the tumor starts breaking down.
d. Vitamin E may work against the effectiveness of ART in vitro. However, this has not been shown to be a concern in human clinical cases.
##DOSAGE
The therapeutic dose ranges from 200 mg a day up to 1,000 a day (in divided doses ) depending on cancer types and the source of the herb. In laboratory studies, significant cell toxicity is shown to have been effected at dosage as little as 1-2 mg/kg body weight .
The exact dosage is highly controversial. In addition to the lack of clinical trials and individual variations, the dosage is highly dependent on the purity and potency of the herb itself. The same 100 mg capsules from one manufacturer may have different and varied effect from another manufacturer.
Artemisinin should always be taken with non-iron containing food. Cod liver oil , cottage cheese, or fish oil may be administered at the same time to enhance absorption. Generally, 400 to 800 mg per day can be used for at least 6 to 12 months. After that, it can be tapered off slowly.
Always take artesminin 2-3 hours aside from other antioxidants such as Vitamin C.
Artemisinin is a "cooling herb" in the traditional Chinese medicine perspective, and some may find it too "cooling" with symptoms such as tingling. If this occurs, then the dosage should be reduced.
Despite its seemingly high degree of effectiveness, it is important to note that artemisinin is not a stand-alone compound. Concurrent use of high dose pancreatic enzyme , daily enema, liver detoxification, and periodic laboratory measurement should also be considered as part of an overall aggressive anti-cancer program.
##PRODUCT CONCERNS
Due to the increasing popularity of this product, the consumer should exercise extreme caution and buy only from the most reputable supplier. Only genuine and pure artemisinin should be used, and only buy from sources you are familiar with. There is tremendous variation in the potency of the herb. A 100 mg of artemisinin from one source may be many times more potent than the same 100 mg from another source. Only buy from source you can trust, and not be fooled by inexpensive "alternatives".
Since the herb comes from China and South-east Asia, proper quality assurance on purity and standardization is of tremendous importance. High-grade artemisinin must always be confirmed by independent laboratory analysis on a batch by batch basis to ensure consistence and purity.
Lastly, always check with your health care professional prior to starting this herb.
According to Lai, it is believed to work because when artemisinin or any of its derivatives comes into contact with iron, a chemical reaction ensues, spawning charged atoms that chemists call free radicals. Cells need iron to replicate DNA when they divide, and since cancer is characterized by out-of-control cell division, cancer cells have much higher iron concentrations than do normal cells. What Lai did was to pump up cancer cells with even more iron and then introduce artemisinin to selectively kill them. Lai theorizes that more aggressive cancers such as pancreatic and acute leukemia which are characterized by more rapid cell division and thus higher iron concentrations may respond even better.
Dr. Rowen also reported on an article that appeared about a year ago in a major cancer journal demonstrating significant artemisinin anticancer activity in a wide variety of laboratory cultured cancer cells. Cancers resistant to common chemotherapy drugs showed no resistance to artemisinin. (International Journal of Oncology 18; 767-773, 2001 by Efferth, et al.)
One of the patient's Dr. Rowen worked with was a 47-year-old female with stage-4 breast cancer with mets to the spine.. She used IPT, high-dose nutritional therapy, dietary changes, dendritic cell vaccine, multi-step oxygen therapy, and more. All of her symptoms regressed, but the CT showed no change. When artemisinin derivatives were added, greater results were obtained.
A Dr. Hoang of Hanoi, Vietnam, reports that 50-60 percent of 400 cancer patients have achieved long-term remission utilizing artemisinin together with a comprehensive integrative cancer strategy. Among these patients is a 47 -year-old female who, presented with terminal liver cancer from hepatitis B and abdominal ascites (massive swelling from liver failure) , was just days or weeks from death. Today; two-and-a-half years later, she is alive and well with no signs of any disease! Dr. Singh is currently following many cancer patients. While not reporting remissions or apparent cures, he says all patients are responding and have at least stabilized. He has found no type of cancer unresponsive to artemisinin derivatives in his studies. Dr. Hoang recommends treatment for two years. Cancer could be like the malaria parasite. If just one cell remains, it can find its way back. Thus, as in malaria, although the parasite is cleared in a few days, prolonged treatment best prevents relapse.
This treatment is said to be non-toxic, so you can continue taking it indefinitely with no expected side effects, though it does depend on the form of Artemesia one uses. There are three common Artemesia derivatives - Artesunate is water soluble and may be the most active and the least toxic, but it has the shortest life within the body. Artemether is oil or lipid soluble and has the longest half-life. It also has the most toxicity (but this is related to rather high dosages, which are not necessary. Its big advantage is that it can cross the blood-brain barrier to reach cancers in the nervous system.
Artemisinin is the active parent compound of the plant. It has an intermediate half-life, is very safe, and also can cross the blood-brain barrier. The first two are slightly altered semi-synthetic derivatives of artemisinin, the concentrated and purified active agent. Dr. Singh reports that a combination of the forms may be the very best treatment due to these different properties (based on a lab experiment). Thus, he feels the best preparation will contain artemisinin and artemether to provide a dose of 0.5-2 mg/Kg of each form once daily before bed (away from any residual iron left in the stomach from the evening meal). Dr. Hoang used 500 mg twice daily of oral artemisinin with good success. The product is best taken on an empty stomach with some natural fat to enhance absorption. Any iron present from residual food may neutralize the peroxides. Milk is one of the few foods with minimal iron. Whole milk, cottage cheese, or yogurt have ample fat to enhance absorption.
Additionally, Dr. Rowen stated that he adds cod liver oil (for its omega-S and vitamin D) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to this therapy. He says that, with the exception of patients very near death, taking artemisinin or derivatives have stabilized, improved, or remitted every cancer patient he has followed. Medical literature also seems to suggest that oxygenating the system might make the products effective. Administration of certain chemotherapy agents (IPT), which kill cells through free radical mechanisms, is another option.
Artemesia herb products are not the same as the concentrated forms of the derivatives described above. The highest concentration of artemisinin (the active agent) in the raw herb in best of conditions does not even get beyond one-half percent. Dr. Singh tested some products, finding perhaps only 10-20 percent of anti-cancer activity against cultured cancer cells compared to pure artemisinin. Allergy Research Group distributes a high-grade artemisinin confirmed by independent lab analysis, so this is the one Dr. Rowen recommended
###Vitamin A Produces Astonishing Leukemia Cure Rate, Even Without Chemotherapy
New research conducted at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center shows that vitamin A cures as many as 33% of patients with a rare form of leukemia -- without using chemotherapy. In the study, the vitamin A was being delivered inside "bubbles of fat" to enhance bioavailability. Out of 34 patients participating in the trial, an astonishing 10 remained cancer-free after five years, despite receiving no chemotherapy.
So what's the real story here Researchers are calling this form of vitamin A a "drug," which seems odd, since it's just vitamin A. Perhaps they don't want to admit that a vitamin is better than chemotherapy for curing cancer. And this is definitely a cure -- that term is even being used by the researchers here. To take a group of cancer patients and watch them remain cancer-free for five years is nothing short of astonishing, especially since they were only taking one vitamin. Imagine how well they'd do if they also consumed chlorella (a strong anti-cancer superfood), spirulina (another superfood containing phytochemicals known to destroy breast cancer tumors), graviola (an Amazonian herb known for its powerful ability to destroy cancer cells), licorice root (a more popular anti-cancer herb) and other health-promoting foods and supplements. With the help of this collection of health-promoting substances, the cure rate could have easily risen to 75% or more.
Still, that's just a guess. Organized medicine isn't really interested in studying things that don't generate profits, and herbs and superfoods certainly fall into that category. But it is exciting to see vitamin A having such a dramatic, positive impact on patients with leukemia who might otherwise be subjected to chemotherapy. And perhaps someday these researchers will have the courage to admit that it's a vitamin, not a drug, that's working the healing magic here.
Overview:
A biological agent --- a drug that wraps vitamin A inside bubbles of fat --- used without chemotherapy appears to offer as many as one-third of patients with a rare form of leukemia an opportunity for a long-term, disease-free future, say researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Researchers say the findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, provide the proof that biologic drugs can work in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and opens the door to development of such agents for more common forms of leukemia.
"This is the first time we have seen patients with an acute leukemia potentially cured without use of chemotherapy," says the study principal investigator, Elihu Estey, MD, a professor in the Department of Leukemia.
Source: http://www.news-medical.net/view_article.aspid=2248
PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Vitamin A and E, in their emulsified form, have been used by clinics all over the world for many years as part of the nutritional protocol for cancer. In my book Cancer: Why We're Still Dying to Know the Truth, we examine this regime and give full details of nutritional and dietary changes that need to be made.
Further Resources
Need good, solid information on cancer and what to do about it Take the two excellent book tours below.
Cancer: Why We're Still Dying to Know the Truth by Phillip Day
Great News on Cancer in the 21st Century by Steven Ransom
Click here if you wish to contact Credence for information on treatment options or resources.
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