Antiproliferative Properties of Padma Lax and Its Components Ginger and Elecampane

Abstract

Background: Padma Lax (PL) is a multi-component herbal laxative, derived from traditional Tibetan medicine. It has been used in the treatment of constipation dominant irritable bowel syndrome. Beyond its purgative and bowel-regulating properties we found it to exhibit antiproliferative properties. Materials and Methods: C6 tumor cells were incubated with either an ethanolic or aqueous extract of PL. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, percentage of apoptotic cells, caspase-3/-7 activity as well as mitochondrial membrane potential were determined. Results: Ethanolic extracts of PL inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner (half max concentration: 384.4 µg/ml after 48 h of incubation). Aqueous extracts were less effective. Ginger and elecampane were the active components of PL in respect to its antiproliferative action and were found to act synergistically. Supplementing the culture medium with polyamines could not override the cytostatic action of PL. Incubation of C6 cells with PL in the presence of catalase proved that the PL effect was specific and not due to oxidative stress. PL had no effects on the cell cycle at a low dose but arrested cells in G1 at high concentrations. Reduction of cell numbers was found to be due to apoptosis. The caspase- 3/-7 pathway was not involved in the PL-induced cell death. However, mitochondrial membrane potential was lost during the course of incubation with PL indicating a mitochondrial- but not caspase-mediated induction of apoptosis. Conclusion: PL exhibits antiproliferative properties which may be beneficial to prevent constipation-related cancer. This study may also contribute to a future development of a new herbal-based antiproliferative treatment.

Pro-apoptotic and anticancer properties of Thapring – A Tibetan herbal formulation

“…In terms of modern medical research, one such formulation best known as Padma 28 -a multicomponent Tibetan herbal formulation -with wound healing property (Aslam et al, 2010), anti-inflammatory activity (Moeslinger et al, 2000) and used in the treatment of some circulatory disorders (Melzer et al, 2006) and chronic hepatitis B infection (Gładysz et al, 1993). Padma Lax is a related formulation that is reported to have anti-proliferative/anti-cancer property (Hofbauer et al, 2006). In the present study, we have used another Tibetan herbal formulation called Thapring that has been effectively used against a variety of cancer (Dawa, 2003).…”

Multi-Target-Wirkmechanismen des pflanzlichen Vielstoffgemischs Padma Lax bei Obstipation

“…Eine weitere experimentelle Studie zeigte eine proliferationsinhibierende und proapoptotische Wirkung des Präparats in einer C6-Tumorzelllinie und insbesondere einen Synergismus zwischen seinen Inhaltsstoffen Ingwer und Alant [21].…”

Tibetan medicine: a unique heritage of person-centered medicine

“…Rather it is through combinations of up to 108 or more ingredients that a formula gains its strength. The leading research regarding multi-ingredient formulas come from the Padma Company who produce standardized herbal formulas developed from Tibetan medical knowledge [42][43][44][45]. In addition there has been research focusing on pregnancy and birth, in particular using the fomula Zhi Byed 11 [46][47][48].…”