The Lamiaceae family of plants have much to offer in the way of anticancer purposes.

While we are sharing final papers for this term, how about my Botany paper on the Mint family and how it has been proven to show anticancer properties? Also ungraded.

The Lamiaceae family of plants have much to offer in the way of anticancer purposes.

Kaire Downin, American College of Healthcare Sciences

Botany 501 Summer 2015

Abstract

Several studies showing many species of plants from the family Lamiacea have shown positive results as to their effectiveness in reducing cancer cells and helping to improve immune system function while treating for cancer in vitro and in vivo studies. Yet, many doctors do not utilize or understand the work of these complementary treatments. The Lamiaceae family of plants have much to offer in the way of anticancer purposes.

Introduction

Treating cancer is a difficult undertaking, often requiring harsh chemicals and long, expensive treatments. Scientists, doctors, and patients are welcoming to the possibilities that more effective complementary treatments are becoming more understood and available. These treatments can lessen the time needed to treat cancer with chemotherapy and in some cases, negate the need for chemotherapy all together. This paper will analyze existing research results showing that the Lamiaceae family of plants have much to offer in the way of anticancer properties and how they can be used to treat multiple cancers.

The Lamiaceae family has around 236 genera and between 6,900 and 7,200 species. The specimens tend to be aromatic and are frequently grown in home gardens for culinary uses, most familiarly basil, sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and oregano (Raja, 2012).  Structurally, The Lamiaceae family have stems that are square and leaves that are simple and grow opposite of each other. This family is highly aromatic with a high essential and volatile oil content which is responsible not only for the strong smells that the fresh plant produces but also its antimicrobial and antifungal properties (Bozin, Mimica-Dukic, Simin, & Anackov, 2006). The irregular flowers are 5 calyx toothed and display 2 lobes on the upper lip while having 3 lobes on the bottom.

Methods

Search terms “frequently used medicinal plants of Lamiaceae” was entered into Google and returned 228,000 results. The same terms in Google Scholar resulted in 18,600 results. The same terms used in the ACHS database library system revealed 110,000.

Search terms “anticancer properties in Lamiaceae” resulted 5,160 hits on Google Scholar, 12,500 on the ACHS library database, and 141,000 results on Google.

In order to determine which studies were useable for this review, the publications must be peer reviewed journals and the study must be focused on the Lamiaceae family and it’s use with anticancer purposes. Access to the full text also must be available, this ruled out several which didn’t have free access. Many of the results on the first page of each search had common listings. Most of the studies used for this review came from the first page of the search results.

Results

            Teucrium is a genus out of the family Lamiaceae and is commonly known as Germander. This group of plants has about 100 species, mainly from the Mediterranean. They are used in landscaping as a perineal shrub and have fragrant flowers (The Taunton Press, 2015). Teucrium has a long history of many species being useful in pharmacy around the world. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences published a study in 2011 that evaluated some species of Teucrium as potential antiproliferative and antioxidant agents with in vitro experiments with the human colon cancer cell line and extracts from nine species of the plant. The used the colon cancer cells because of the scientific evidence of the Teucrium having positive results on healing other digestive tract disease. The results indicated that four of the nine species (name species) tested had a strong antiproliferative effect and should be considered for further research. These extracts are a viable source of natural polyphenolic compounds (Stankovic, et al., 2011). Polyphenols are micronutrients in our diets that if consumed in enough amounts based on bioavailability, can have preventative effects on cancer and other degenerative diseases (Manach, Scalbert, Morand, Rémésy, & Jiménez, 2004).  

            Bangalore University sought out to identify and research the medicinal values of plants in the Lamiaceae family that grew in Karnataka, India. 109 plants have been identified from the Lamiaceae family which have medicinal qualities, ten of which were selected for the research review. (list plants) The researchers put together a table which lists the medicinal values shown in other research. The plants listed which have a history of anticancer, antiproliferative, or antioxidant properties were

·         Anisomeles indica which “inhibit inflammatory mediators and tumor cell proliferation,” and is used for “antimetastatic effects on human breast cancer cells.”

·         Hyptis suaveolens which has essential oil with antioxidant properties and enough results as an appetite increaser and anti-nausea to make it helpful as a complementary treatment along with other treatments that often cause digestive problems.

·         Leonotis nepetaefolia having biological activities including anticancer properties

This study concluded with acknowledging the rich amount of biologically active compounds that promote many therapeutic values (S.M.Venkateshappa & K.P.Sreenath, 2013).

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine published a study in 2014 that evaluated anticancer properties of plants in the Lamiaceae family, among others, commonly used in folk medicine in India. Extracts of Lavendula bipinnata were made and experiments were performed using cancer cell lines obtained from the National Center of Cell Science. Results revealed that L. bipinnata demonstrated significant anticancer and moderate cytotoxic properties to several  cell lines. It was concluded that the plants used in the study, including L. bipinnata should be considered for further research in order to develop new anticancer drugs and that the current research suggests the validation of the continuing use of the existing natural treatments that include these plants in the ingredients (Shaikh, Pund, Dawane, & Iliyas, 2014).

The Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research published a research article in 2013 about the medicinal qualities of Salvia, a genus of Lamiaceae with about 960 species. Eleven species were selected for the study that grow in Iran and were collected in their habitat. They were screened for cytotoxic activity and antimicrobial activity using extracts from the plants and then tested in three human cancer cell lines, two were leukemia lines and one was breast cancer. They were all shown to be affective against the cancer cell lines at different rates, the strongest being S. limbata, S. hypoleuca and S. aethiopis. At the end of the study, it was S. santolinifolia and S. eremophila that were considered to be “the most interesting bioactive plants in this study,” and recommended for further investigation of their active constituents (Omidreza Firuzi, 2013).

Papers have also been published out of Brazil showing the anticancer activity of Hyptis mutabilis, commonly referred to as common bushmint. This paper focuses on the anticancer activity from water extracts on mice with tumors. No adverse conditions were encountered during the experiment and there was antitumor activity displayed towards sarcoma tumors in the mice (Ximenes, Melo, Magalhães, Souza, & Albuquerque, 2012).

Discussion

            According to the results of a survey sent out to members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2010, one of the barriers to doctors utilizing herbs and supplements in the treatment of cancer is their lack of knowledge. This survey revealed less than 40% of oncologists initiating conversations with their patients about the use and benefits of herbs and supplements while treating cancer (Lee, et al., 2014). Other potential complications that physicians report is that the herbs and supplements are managed by the patients while the doctors are managing the treatments. Some reported successful herbs that are used during cancer treatment in pediatric units are St. John’s Wort for depression, Ginger for nausea as well as Echinacea for immune system support (Quimby, 2007). Even though there are oncologists that find using herbs to treat the symptoms that are associated with the side effects of cancer treatments can be seen as a step in the right direction, there are available herbs that actually treat the cancer directly as we have seen through this summary research. It is recommended that oncologist have access to and are required to take continuing education classes on how to best utilize these less expensive and less destructive complementary treatments to help lessen the time of treatment and induce healing of cancers in the human population.

Conclusion and recommendation

It is clear from the multiple studies over many years that plants in the Lamiaceae family are effect agents of anticancer activity and have the potential to be used in anticancer drugs and technology.  After all the reports are in, it is also clear that there is room for improving the research to understand dosage and length of treatments. Many of these articles have used extracts that were produced with chemicals and not just the water extracts like the simple and common teas and infusions that are often used in folk or traditional medicine. There was no discussion on the risks or contraindications of using these compounds and most of the studies referred to being ready for more extensive research to determine these things.

            Publishing these findings in journals commonly read by oncologists and making the information available through workshops and classes for continuing education could expose the people who are working with the patients to a broader variety of treatments. Cancer treatments are costly and often put people in a large amount of debt and many only gain a few months from the destructive chemotherapy sessions. Complementary treatments that are proven to be effective should be employed by these doctors and patients in order to help save them money and time. When dealing with destructive and often terminal illnesses like Cancer, often people are not in the mind frame to do their own research and find these solutions. It is time we demand more from the medical community and put a stop to the price gouging practices of pharmaceutical technology and take advantage of the many options in plant medicine that are easily available and affordable to administer.

             

References

Bozin, B., Mimica-Dukic, N., Simin, N., & Anackov, a. G. (2006). Characterization of the Volatile Composition of Essential Oils of Some Lamiaceae Spices and the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of the Entire Oils. Journal of Agriculture and Food Industry, 1822-1828. doi:10.1021/jf051922u

Manach, C., Scalbert, A., Morand, C., Rémésy, C., & Jiménez, a. L. (2004). Polyphenols: food sources and bioavailability. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 727-747.

Omidreza Firuzi, R. M. (2013). Cytotoxic, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities and Phenolic Contents of Eleven Salvia Species from Iran. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 801-810.

Raja, R. R. (2012). Medicinally Potential Plants of Labiatae (Lamiaceae) Family: An Overview. Research Journal of Medicinal Plant, 203-216.

S.M.Venkateshappa, & K.P.Sreenath. (2013). POTENTIAL MEDICINAL PLANTS OF LAMIACEAE. American International Journal of Research in Formal, Applied & Natural Sciences, 82-87.

Shaikh, R., Pund, M., Dawane, A., & Iliyas, S. (2014). Evaluation of Anticancer, Antioxidant, and Possible Antiinflammatory Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants Used in Indian Traditional Medication. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 253-257.

Stankovic, M. S., Curcic, M. G., Zizic, J. B., Topuzovic, M. D., Solujic, S. R., & Markovic, S. D. (2011). Teucrium Plant Species as Natural Sources of Novel Anticancer Compounds: Antiproliferative, Proapoptotic and Antioxidant Properties. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 4190-4205. doi:10.3390/ijms12074190

The Taunton Press. (2015). Genus: Teucrium. Retrieved from Fine Gardening: http://www.finegardening.com/teucrium

Ximenes, R. M., Melo, A. M., Magalhães, L. P., Souza, I. A., & Albuquerque, J. F. (2012). Antitumor Activity of Leaves from Hyptis mutabilis (A. Rich.) Briq. (Lamiaceae) in Mice Bearing Tumor. Dataset Papers in Pharmacology. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.7167/2013/169357

Herbal Cough Syrup

Whether it is Spring fever or Winter flu, there is always a good reason to keep something to help with coughs and sore throats around, you never know when they will sneak up on you. I wasn't sick for over a year and suddenly, in January, fell victim to this crudy crud that lasted weeks. As soon as I thought it was done, I feel something else coming on. Hoping it is the yearly Spring Allergies (which I will post about in the near future) but it feels like it is more than that. Lucky for me, this week in my HERB 502 class at ACHS we are making this herbal cough syrup for our practical and I am sharing all the goodness with you. Just a reminder that you can get herbal kits through the ACHS apothecary store with the herbs you need to do this recipe and few more.

You will need:

• one ounce licorice root
• one ounce marshmallow root
• one ounce slippery elm bark
• one ounce flaxseed
• 4 pints of water
• one pound of all natural raw honey or a pint of molasses
• a half gallon jar
• a small pot 
• a large pot
• a mesh bag or cheese cloth
• four 14 ounce dark bottles with lids or corks (I used old Kombucha bottles)
• labels

You will start by adding the one ounce of licorice root to the small pot with one pint of water. Heat it on medium high until it boils, be careful, it foams and will quickly overflow from the pot if you don't turn the heat down to medium low as soon as it boils. Let it sit and simmer down about 30 minutes, reducing the liquid about 1/4. 

While that is cooking, add the rest of the herbs into your gallon jar and pour 3 pints of hot water in. I tried putting the herbs in my handy infusion strainer but, the slippery elm has it's own pectin in it and gels up, making it hard to strain through. I found just pouring all the herbs in works better. 

A little about the herbs. Licorice Root is known for its expectorant properties for use with upper respiratory infections and bronchial catarrhs. The extracts have shown anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Marshmallow is an effective demulcent that coats the throat and has anti-inflammatory properties. Slippery elm will not only treat inflamed mucus membranes of the bronchial tubes, but it will absorb excess mucous from respiratory conditions. Flaxseed is also a demulcent that helps to lubricate mucus membranes and sooth inflammation. 

Ok, so now that your decoction is ready, you will pour the liquid through your strainer, into the half

gallon jar so it can infuse with the other herbs for 20-30 minutes. Notice how the herbs layer while infusing? While this is happening is a great time to eat lunch or clean up your messes. Get ready because here comes the fun part. 

The demulcent nature of these herbs means that they are really SLIMY when they are wet. Like, forget your coffee filter, forget your infuser strainer, I ended up using those nylon reusable produce bags you get from the store in the produce section and putting that inside a large pan and pouring the whole half gallon jar into it. Wait until the infusion is warm enough to be handled, but not too cold. You will have to squeeze and milk the liquid out. Did I mention how slimy it is? It took about 10 minutes of squeezing and oozing the slime out. I usually put my spent herbs in my worm composter, but this time, I put them in the trash, I know... not very nice, but I was afraid what it would do to the worms. 

After you have successfully milked out all the liquid and disposed of the slimy leftovers, you can now pour in your honey or molasses. I changed my mind halfway through and went for the Oregon Meadowfoam raw honey at the health food store that was $9 for a pound. 

Once you have added the honey and stirred it all up, you can start bottling it in your brown jars. I use my tincture funnel, holding the bottle over the pot so I didn't make a mess, and using a measuring cup to scoop the very thick liquid into the jars. cork them, label them and store in a dark area or in the refrigerator. 

This cough syrup has a light sweet taste that doesn't taste like licorice. I HATE the taste of licorice, seriously, I avoid it at all costs, but this doesn't taste like that at all. You can use a tablespoon three to four times a day as needed for sore throat and cough. I am going to be using it the next few days because I am feeling like I am coming down with something. Some alternative herbs you could use in this mix would be something for immune function like elderberry or Echinacea, something to help you sleep like Skullcap, or my personal favorite all around great herb, Lemon Balm which also has antiviral, antibiotic properties and is a light sedative. For a day time cough relief potion, adding some vitamin B and C to it will help with energy. 

Good luck and happy sliming!