Buzz about when natural remedies become real medicine
Buddhini Samarasinghe ,others, and I often mention how alternative medicine becomes medicine when it’s rigorously tested. Here’s an example from the The University of Chicago . Chih-Pin Chuu et al, in Dr. Richard Jones’ lab report how Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAFE) suppress cell proliferation of prostate cancer cells. CAPE is the active ingredient in beehive propolis (see below). They started with cancer cells in vitro and then moved to a mouse model.
From the University of Chicago news blurb (http://goo.gl/vtJ22):
But if CAPE were to truly make the crossover from holistic remedy to clinical option, the scientists would also have to demonstrate how the compound freezes cancer cells in a non-proliferative state. Enter the micro-western array, the innovative proteomics technique first described in 2010 by Jones and colleagues.
Once they found their target pathway from the micro-western array, they over-express components of those pathways to block the effect of CAPE. This kind of follows my diet post earlier today (http://goo.gl/vlUWT). CAPE makes the cancer cells think there is no nutrients available. There is mention of patent issues in the article, i.e., it would be hard to get a drug company to pay for the clinical trials on this because propolis cannot be patented. For more on that issue, check out my Bench to Bedside post. http://goo.gl/xpu7W
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells through inhibition of p70S6K and Akt signaling networks.
Chuu CP, Lin HP, Ciaccio MF, Kokontis JM, Hause RJ Jr, Hiipakka RA, Liao S, Jones RB.
Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2012 May;5(5):788-97. http://goo.gl/iwFGW
In searching for a good eye catching photo to go along with the article, I realized that the image in the news blurb is a stock image from Wikipedia. It was also used in this interesting article.
Image of propolis, the sticky resin that bees line their hive with. In a PLosONE article Michael Simone-Finstrom and Marla Spivak report it’s anti-fungal properties. http://goo.gl/duvSC
#ScienceEveryday when it isn’t #ScienceSunday
October 17, 2012
To emphasize Chad Haney ‘s point: It is perhaps appropriate (albeit troubling) to note that pharmaceutical firms exist for the profits returned to shareholders, and not for the public’s well-being.
October 17, 2012
I’ve mentioned this before. Many natural remedies became thus for a reason. Obviously, many will prove groundless, but I would imagine that just as many turn out to have some basis in fact.
October 17, 2012
As William McGarvey knows, there are government funds available for clinical trials but it is by far less competitive to get a drug company on board for that purpose.
Jonathan Warden I don’t know what percentage of natural remedies pass scientific muster, my focus and interest here is that anecdotal evidence or placebo effect cannot be used in lieu of rigorous science.
October 18, 2012
You mean Snakeoil? I love that site http://goo.gl/10xUI
October 18, 2012
Propolis : Word that I’ve never heard of before.
Reaction: Intrigued, geekily curious.
Action: Rushes off to read PLoS ONE paper.
🙂
October 18, 2012
I win I win Palindrome plus a word that Rajini doesn’t know!
October 18, 2012
LOL! You always win in my book, Chad Haney 🙂
October 18, 2012
I enjoy that infographic.
October 18, 2012
Why can’t it be patented? Certainly it is a novel use with benefit and practical application. That’s sufficient for a utility patent. In my experience when people complain that it is not lucrative because it can’t be patented, it usually means it does not have sufficient proof of action. From the looks of the works cited it is working on cells in a dish. If it works in an animal model, is tolerated by humans and shows efficacy in risk/benefit, it would be patented and sold.
October 18, 2012
Kevin Folta I don’t know why a utility patent would not be enough of a lure. mary Zeman knows more in this area.
October 18, 2012
Louise Chase in the Wiki for Mānuka honey, it says:
It has in vitro antibacterial properties, but there is not conclusive evidence of benefit in medical use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81nuka_honey
This is exactly what my post is about. If there are claims to medicinal properties and they have not passed rigorous scientific testing, then it’s still just a food supplement.
October 18, 2012
Rajini Rao don’t take my comment the wrong way. I meant that I was excited that you found something interesting and new on my post. I should have posted the anti-fungal, propolis part separately.
October 18, 2012
Actually, on first read, I got sidetracked by the propolis and antifungal side story..missed the main point on testing anticancer effects of this compound 🙂
December 9, 2012
Kevin Folta I would expect you to say something like that since you get your funding from big pharma and Monsanto. The fact is many common things that can be bought over the counter are not patentable because they are in the public domain and can be bought or grown easily. As usual you place obstacles to the facts by cleverly worded statements.
December 10, 2012
Jim Carver When you tell me that I get my funding from “big pharma and Monsanto”, which is not true, then anything else you say is meaningless. I don’t have to read past your baseless assertions. My funding is 100% public and you’ll never see a penny from either of those sources. We can discuss facts, but we can’t do that when you lead with a lie.
December 10, 2012
Kevin Folta So you are saying you and/or your school has never received any money for research from Monsanto? Or money for promotional purposes?
December 10, 2012
Never mind, you’ll never admit it.
December 10, 2012
Thanks for muting Jim Carver I don’t need a cat fight on my post.
December 10, 2012
Chad Haney Jim Carver Chad, just for the purposes of keeping it straight, I’d really like to respond. It is very sad that I have to even go this far, but anyone that speaks science gets a similar treatment from people like Jim.
My research is not sponsored by Monsanto or big pharma– not one cent. You can play the six-degrees-of-monsanto game and find some link to someone where I advise his student and that student uses a microwave with someone that once received funds from Monsanto. However, I have not ever used one cent of money from monsanto or big pharma. Other faculty may have agreements with them, but that does not affect me one bit. I only started to receive private corporate support for the first time on Nov 1, 2012 for a specific project, and it is none of the companies you pose. My funding record is completely transparent and public record. No monsanto, no big pharma. Sorry. Nothing to admit.
December 10, 2012
Likewise Kevin Folta I only have NIH funding and little of it. I hope this closes the non-science nonsense. We can go back to discussing bees and CAFE.
Thanks guys.