Reliance on medicinal plant therapy among cancer patients in Jamaica

Foster, Kimberley; Younger, Novie; Aiken, William; Brady-West, Doreen; Delgoda, Rupika

doi:10.1007/s10552-017-0924-9

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A Jamaican study investigating the perceptions of people diagnosed with cancer about self-medicating with medicinal plants found that 60% of the participants (n = 80) reported using A. muricata for the treatment of a range of cancers, predominately breast and prostate cancer. [5] Similar results were showed in specialty oncology clinics in Trinidad with A. muricata being used by 80.9% of people living with breast, prostate and colorectal cancer (n = 150). [6] In addition, results of a cross-sectional study suggest that 14% of liver cancer patients in Peru (n = 88) had taken A. muricata to manage their cancer-related symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Currently, A. muricata is widely utilised by people diagnosed with cancer. A Jamaican study investigating the perceptions of people diagnosed with cancer about self‐medicating with medicinal plants found that 60% of the participants ( n = 80) reported using A. muricata for the treatment of a range of cancers, predominately breast and prostate cancer . Similar results were showed in specialty oncology clinics in Trinidad with A. muricata being used by 80.9% of people living with breast, prostate and colorectal cancer ( n = 150) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

Chan

McLachlan

Hanrahan

et al. 2019

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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Objectives Annona muricata, also known as graviola, soursop and guanabana, has been widely utilised for the treatment of a range of cancers. The mechanism of action and the efficacy of A. muricata and its constituents in the treatment of cancer have been comprehensively reviewed. The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the available literature that reports on factors related to the safety and tolerability of A. muricata leaf extract and its acetogenins. Methods In‐vitro, preclinical animal studies and human studies of any design written in any language were included. Studies that evaluated A. muricata leaf extract and its constituents were searched through the databases Pubmed, Medline and Embase from inception to April 2019. The elaborated item 4 of Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement and Animals in Research: Reporting In vivo Experiments guidelines were used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Key findings The results suggest that A. muricata and its constituents have hepatoprotective, neurotoxic, antinociceptive, anti‐ulcerative and chemopreventive effects. The dose and duration used in animal studies demonstrating toxicity may not directly translate into the effects in humans. Studies included in this review were judged to be of medium to high quality. Conclusions The overall outcome of the current review suggests that A. muricata has a favourable safety and tolerability profile. Future studies investigating its use in people diagnosed with a range of cancers are warranted.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

Chan

McLachlan

Hanrahan

et al. 2019

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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“…In developing tropical countries including Africa, different parts of A. muricata are being used to treat conditions such as diabetes [ 53 , 54 ], coughs, skin diseases [ 55 ], and cancers [ 25 – 27 , 56 – 58 ]. Furthermore, in both Jamaica [ 59 ] and Trinidad [ 60 ], A. muricata is the most prevalently used herbal remedy in the treatment of most cancers. For example, in Jamaica, a large proportion of cancer patients use medicinal plants in self-medicating practices, with A. muricata being commonly used (along with Petiveria alliacea ) for treating breast and prostate cancers, respectively [ 59 ].…”

Section: Botanical Description and Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, in both Jamaica [ 59 ] and Trinidad [ 60 ], A. muricata is the most prevalently used herbal remedy in the treatment of most cancers. For example, in Jamaica, a large proportion of cancer patients use medicinal plants in self-medicating practices, with A. muricata being commonly used (along with Petiveria alliacea ) for treating breast and prostate cancers, respectively [ 59 ].…”

Section: Botanical Description and Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticancer Properties of Graviola (Annona muricata): A Comprehensive Mechanistic Review

Rady

Bloch

Chamcheu

et al. 2018

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

119

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Graviola (Annona muricata) is a small deciduous tropical evergreen fruit tree, belonging to the Annonaceae family, and is widely grown and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The aerial parts of graviola have several functions: the fruits have been widely used as food confectionaries, while several preparations, especially decoctions of the bark, fruits, leaves, pericarp, seeds, and roots, have been extensively used in traditional medicine to treat multiple ailments including cancers by local communities in tropical Africa and South America. The reported therapeutic benefits of graviola against various human tumors and disease agents in in vitro culture and preclinical animal model systems are typically tested for their ability to specifically target the disease, while exerting little or no effect on normal cell viability. Over 212 phytochemical ingredients have been reported in graviola extracts prepared from different plant parts. The specific bioactive constituents responsible for the major anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and other health benefits of graviola include different classes of annonaceous acetogenins (metabolites and products of the polyketide pathway), alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, and others. This review summarizes the current understanding of the anticancer effects of A. muricata and its constituents on diverse cancer types and disease states, as well as efficacy and safety concerns. It also includes discussion of our current understanding of possible mechanisms of action, with the hope of further stimulating the development of improved and affordable therapies for a variety of ailments.

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“…From the same research, we also reported that 27% of Jamaican medicinal plant users take pharmaceutical drugs concomitantly. A survey of cancer patients attending the oncology and urology clinics at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, and two earlier surveys of Jamaican prescription drug users identified high levels of herb-drug use (80% [ 4 ] 80% [ 5 ] and 81% [ 6 ], respectively), while awareness of such herb-drug use amongst health care professionals was low across all four surveys (13% [ 5 ], 15% [ 4 ], 18% [ 6 ] and 19% [ 3 ], respectively). High levels of concomitant herb-drug use and low physician awareness are reported elsewhere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 Activities by Extracts of Hyptis verticillata Jacq.: Assessment for Potential HERB-Drug Interactions

et al. 2018

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Understanding the potential for adverse drug reactions (ADRs), from herb-drug interactions, is a key aspect of medicinal plant safety, with particular relevance for public health in countries where medicinal plant use is highly prevalent. We undertook an in-depth assessment of extracts of Hyptis verticillata Jacq., via its impact on activities of key cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYPs 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 3A4 and 2D6), its antioxidant properties (determined by DPPH assays) and chemical characterisation (using LC-MS). The dried plant aqueous extract demonstrated potent inhibition of the activities of CYPs 1A1 (7.6 µg/mL), 1A2 (1.9 µg/mL), 1B1 (9.4 µg/mL) and 3A4 (6.8 µg/mL). Further analysis of other crude extracts demonstrated potent inhibition of CYP1A2 activity for a dried plant ethanol extract (1.5 µg/mL), fresh plant ethanol extract (3.9 µg/mL), and moderate activity for a fresh plant aqueous extract (27.8 µg/mL). All four extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, compared to the positive control (ascorbic acid, 1.3 µg/mL), with the dried plant ethanol extract being the most potent (1.6 µg/mL). Analysis of the dried plant aqueous extract confirmed the identity of seven phytochemicals, five lignans and two triterpenes. Individual screening of these phytochemicals against the activity of CYP1A2 identified yatein as a moderate inhibitor (71.9 μM), likely to contribute to the plant extract’s potent bioactivity. Further analysis on the impact of this plant on key drug metabolizing enzymes in vivo appears warranted for likely ADRs, as well as furthering development as a potential chemopreventive agent.

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Reliance on medicinal plant therapy among cancer patients in Jamaica

Abstract: A large proportion of Jamaican cancer patients use medicinal plants in self-medicating practices and their perceptions and habits need to be considered by physicians, in the design of safe and effective care regimes.

Cited by 35 publications

References 23 publications

The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

Anticancer Properties of Graviola (Annona muricata): A Comprehensive Mechanistic Review

Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 Activities by Extracts of Hyptis verticillata Jacq.: Assessment for Potential HERB-Drug Interactions

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