Herbal Medicine Effective Against Prostate Cancer, Leukemia: Study

Herbal Medicine Effective Against Prostate Cancer, Leukemia: Study
Herbs used in traditional Korean medicine. (Courtesy of Dr. Seo)
Lisa Bian
10/26/2022
Updated:
12/7/2022

A medical research team in Seoul, South Korea has found that certain traditional herbal medicines are effective in treating some types of cancer cells.

In April, a research group led by Professor Kim Bong-Lee of Kyung Hee University’s College of Korean Medicine unveiled the combined results of a study confirming the effectiveness of several herbal medicines against prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. The herbs are used in both traditional Chinese and Korean medicine.
The results of the team’s research were organized into three papers and published between March and June in the international scientific journals Frontiers in Oncology and Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

The study found that an herbal formula consisting of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) (also known as chaff flower) and Melandrium firmum Rohrbach (MFR) in a ratio of 2 to 1, had anti-cancer properties when tested on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. The herbal compound is known as BK002 in Korean medicine.

In addition, the study found that extracts of Daemonorops draco Blume (also called Dragon’s Blood) and Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn (commonly known as oriental motherwort) showed efficacy against acute myeloid leukemia cells. 
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed male malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In particular, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)—prostate cancer that keeps growing even when testosterone levels are greatly reduced—has a high mortality rate, despite improved therapeutics.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. Presently, chemotherapy is still the primary treatment, however, the five-year survival rate for AML is low, and according to a 2019 study, about two-thirds of AML patients relapse.

Through experiments, Kim’s research group found that the BK002 formula was able to target the PC3 CRPC cell line and the DU145 prostate cancer cell line, without affecting normal cells.

Writing in an announcement on the Kyung Hee University website, research professor Moon Nyeo Park, the first author of the three papers, said the team tested BK002 together with existing cancer drugs “to find the right combination with the least concentration but the maximum efficacy and fewer side effects.”

Herbal Treatments: Fewer Side Effects

The study indicates that traditional Chinese and Korean medicine may have an advantage over Western medicine in treating certain types of cancer.

Writing in the Korean language journal Medical Today in April, reporter Min-Jun Kim said, “Existing anticancer drugs have many side effects. In fact, patients who can no longer receive treatment at the terminal stage of cancer are visiting oriental medicine hospitals.”

Min-Jun commented, “The key to treating castration-resistant prostate cancer is to alleviate the side effects and pain caused by chemotherapy rather than to increase the survival rate. This is because anticancer drugs, which are highly cytotoxic, affect both cancer cells and normal cells, creating various side effects.”

Compared to conventional western anticancer drugs, traditional Chinese or Korean medicine may be less toxic to normal cells. It is also less expensive, and therefore, more accessible to patients.

The Kyung-Hee research team plans to conduct animal and clinical trials on the herbal treatments, as a follow-up to this study.

Medicinal Effects of Herbs Used in the Study

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) has been shown to possess a wide range of therapeutic functions. It has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects.  In Chinese medicinal terms, it can remove blood stasis, clear the meridians, invigorate the liver and kidney, and strengthen muscles and bones.
Melandrium firmum Rohrbach (MFR), known in traditional Korean medicine as Wang-bul-ryu-haeng, has been used to treat gynecological conditions such as lactation disorders. It can promote diuresis and milk secretion, activate blood circulation, and relieve swelling. In western terms, it is an anti-coagulant, anti-tumor, and can prevent the expansion of blood vessels.

Daemonorops draco Blume, also known as Dragon’s blood, can stop bleeding, help blood circulation, and provide pain relief. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects.

In Chinese medicinal terms, Motherwort promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, regulates menstruation, diuresis, and swelling, clears heat and detoxification, and improves eyesight. Western research indicates that it may improve circulation, act as an anticoagulant, and treat diuresis.

Lisa Bian, B.Med.Sc., is a healthcare professional holding a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Science. With a rich background, she has accrued over three years of hands-on experience as a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician. In addition to her clinical expertise, she serves as an accomplished writer based in Korea, providing valuable contributions to The Epoch Times. Her insightful pieces cover a range of topics, including integrative medicine, Korean society, culture, and international relations.
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