Tripterygium Wilfordii Extract (Triptolide) and Amygdalin Promotes Cell death in Cancer Cells: True or a Myth

Abstract

Different natural products are known for their use in conventional medicine and especially for their beneficial effect on chronic diseases including autoimmune and cancer. A purified natural extract sample from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (known as Lei Gong Teng or Thunder of God Vine) containing diterpenoids and triepoxides, was associated with significant anti-tumor effects and with encouraging results. Additionally, another natural extract from apricot kernels, Amygdalin (also known as laetrile or vitamin B17) a cyanide-containing substance, has been reported as a potential anti-cancer molecule with numerous contradictions among different published data. For many years different scientist tried to investigate in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo the efficacy of all of these molecules but they all failed in giving clear robust positive conclusions and the opinions are contradictory. Most of the studies were focusing on the apoptotic effects that can lead to the programmed cell death (PCD), a noteworthy mechanism in cancer treatment. The present review summarizes published reports and gives a better understanding of the known abilities as well as the possible role of these specific natural extract molecules in the fight of cancer treatment, cure and prevention.

The graviola impact on human astroglioma cells: functional significance of MUDENG

“…16 Apoptosis plays a vital role in destroying cells that are selectively unnecessary or present a threat to the integrity of an organism, thereby limiting the development and/or spread of cancer. 17 In many cancers, however, the gene(s) regulating apoptosis are faulty, which leads to uncontrolled proliferation. 16 The ability to induce cellular apoptosis in tumor tissues is the Cell cycle analyses after GEs stimulation.…”

“…The results of our study conrmed that graviola fruit extracts (GFE-A) possess the highest anti-astroglioma activity, followed by leaf extracts (GLE-A > K). Ioannis et al, 17 in their recent review, have also placed fruit extracts as the ones with higher anti-cancer activity followed by leaf extracts.…”

An in silico investigation and introduction of some secondary metabolites of medicinal plants with antiviral activity and effective vitamins for the treatment of MPox

“…Hepatitis C infection increases oxidative stress and decreases the level of group B vitamins in the blood circulation, therefore, to prevent further damage, you can benefit from food supplements and vitamin B consumption to prevent the spread of the disease [25]. Vitamin B17 (amygdalin) has anti-cancer properties because, according to hypotheses, its deficiency causes cancer [26,27]. Traditionally, it has been used to treat asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, and vaginal infections [28].…”

Anticancer and Apoptogenic Effect of Graviola and Low-Dose Radiation in Tumor Xenograft in Mice

“…Furthermore, the new generation of drugs should be nontoxic to the normal cells and reasonable for the patients. 1 Actually, more than 47% of anticancer therapies on the market are natural products, their derivatives or natural substances synthetic simulate, 2,3 and over 25 000 identified phytochemicals have been shown to possess effective anticancer activities. 2,4 Graviola is a small deciduous tree of the Annonaceae family broadly distributed in tropical countries, that is well known by several names including Annona muricata, soursop, Brazilian paw, and guanabana.…”

“…Furthermore, the new generation of drugs should be nontoxic to the normal cells and reasonable for the patients. 1…”