Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) anti cancer properties

[Graham49]

I had heard of the anti cancer properties of Curcumin and Garlic but Vernonia Amygdalina is a new one to me.

Prostate Cancer Disparity, Chemoprevention, and Treatment by Specific Medicinal Plants

Clement G. Yedjou 1,*OrcID, Ariane T. Mbemi 1, Felicite Noubissi 2OrcID, Solange S. Tchounwou 3, Nole Tsabang 4, Marinelle Payton 5, Lucio Miele 6 and Paul B. Tchounwou 2,*OrcID

1

Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory, NIH/NIMHD RCMI-Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

2

Department of Biology, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

3

Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, 214 Shoemaker Hall, P.O. Box 1848, MS 38677, USA

4

Department of Animal Biology, Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences, Yaounde P.O.Box 16317, Cameroon

5

Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson Medical Mall-Thad Cochran Center, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39213, USA

6

Department of Genetics, LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, 533 Bolivar Street, Room 657, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 19 November 2018 / Accepted: 29 January 2019 / Published: 4 February 2019

Abstract: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers in men. The global burden of this disease is rising. Its incidence and mortality rates are higher in African American (AA) men compared to white men and other ethnic groups. The treatment decisions for PC are based exclusively on histological architecture, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and local disease state. Despite advances in screening for and early detection of PC, a large percentage of men continue to be diagnosed with metastatic disease including about 20% of men affected with a high mortality rate within the African American population. As such, this population group may benefit from edible natural products that are safe with a low cost. Hence, the central goal of this article is to highlight PC disparity associated with nutritional factors and highlight chemo-preventive agents from medicinal plants that are more likely to reduce PC. To reach this central goal, we searched the PubMed Central database and the Google Scholar website for relevant papers. Our search results revealed that there are significant improvements in PC statistics among white men and other ethnic groups. However, its mortality rate remains significantly high among AA men. In addition, there are limited studies that have addressed the benefits of medicinal plants as chemo-preventive agents for PC treatment, especially among AA men. This review paper addresses this knowledge gap by discussing PC disparity associated with nutritional factors and highlighting the biomedical significance of three medicinal plants (curcumin, garlic, and Vernonia amygdalina) that show a great potential to prevent/treat PC, as well as to reduce its incidence/prevalence and mortality, improve survival rate, and reduce PC-related health disparity.

[Garbonzeaux]

Vernonia Amygdalina is native to Africa and has been used for various medicinal purposes there for a long time. It appears to contain quite a number of terpenoids, which is probably what makes it bitter. Despite the name, it is apparently not a source of amygdalin = laetrile (the peach-pit cyano-glycoside). I have looked for papers on its phytochemical constituents, and it is not clear which of them would give it anti-PC properties. The Yedjou et al. study is in vitro, and I don't see much in the way of human or even mouse studies with V. amygdalina. Not planning to add it to my regimen.

[Garbonzeaux in reply to Garbonzeaux]

APRICOT pit (brain fog...)