Botanical Therapeutics Flashcards
How are botanicals used in integrative oncology? (5)
- Chemoprevention
- Adjunt to midigate side effects of chemo/ radiation
- Adjunt to enhance effectiveness of chemo/ radiation
- Prevention of recurrence
- Improve QOL during survivorship
How are botanicals used in integrative oncology? (5)
- Chemoprevention
- Adjunt to midigate side effects of chemo/ radiation
- Adjunt to enhance effectiveness of chemo/ radiation
- Prevention of recurrence
- Improve QOL during survivorship
Ashwaganda scientific name
Withania somnifera
Ashwaganda mechanism
Constituents (withanolides, withaferin A) are antineoplastic
May be immunostimulatory, radiosensitizing (animal studies)
Ashwaganda evidence
- Less fatigue and higher QOL, possibly better overall survival in breast cancer when combined with chemo
Ashwaganda dose
2 g TID
Ashwaganda interactions
May increase testosterone, avoid in prostate cancer
Astragalus indication in oncology
Prevent chemo-induced immunosuppression
May potentiate chemo, improve fatigue and anorexia
Astragalus key studies
Reduced risk of death at 12 mo, improved tumor response, stable or improved performance status (in chinese formula, when combined with platinum based chemo in NSCLC)
Astragalus dosage
1000 mg of extract standardized to 3% astraglosides, 2-3x/day
Astragalus interactions (3)
- Immunotherapy - may increase side effects (PD-1 inhibitors) or antagonize effects (corticosteroids)
- P-glycoprotein substrates - can inhibit efflux pump function increasing cytoxicity of chemo (doxorubicine, etoposide, vincristine *)
- Gemcitabine - affects pharmacokinestics in mouse model
Ginger mechanism
Competetive antagonism at 5-HT3 receptors
Ginger evidence
Meta-analysis - 0.71 OR controlling CINV (especially acute)
Large trial - decreased CINV in patients who had nausea in previouc cycles (with 5-HT3 antagonist)
- 0.5 and 1 g most effective
Ginger dosage
500-2000 mg daily
Ginger a/e
rare; low-grade GI, flushing, dermatitis
Ginger interactionts
unlikely
Ginger cautions
May increase bleeding; be cautious w/ blood thinners
Panax ginseng has been used in which cancers and side effects?
NSCLC, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cancer related fatigue (800 mg)
Panax ginseng effect on NSCLC?
Genseoside Rg3 combined with chemo - may enhance response, overall survival, alleviave side effects
poor quality trials
Panax ginseng effect on gastric cancer?
Ginsenoside Rg3 with Mitomycin C + Tegafur chemo after surgery - sig longer survival
Panax ginseng effect on esophageal cancer?
No difference in tumor response w/ gencitabine and cisplatin
inhibits new angiogenesis, reduced chemo side effects, improve QOL
Panax ginseng effect on cancer-related fatigue?
800 mg improved fatigue, QOL, appetite, and sleep
Panax quinquefolius dose and effect on cancer-related fatigue?
2000 mg daily after 8 weeks improves
Panax quinquefolius is effective for…?
reducing moderate to severe infections and sxs severity for respiratory infections in pts with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Ginseng adverse effects
Stimulating - dry mouth, tachycardia, N/V diarrhea, insomnia, nervousness
Ginseng interactions
MAO inhibitors, warfarin, antidiabetics
Antineoplastic agents metabolized via CYP3A4
Imatinib-associated hepatotoxicity (case report)
Ginseng contraindications
Hormone-sensitive cancers (estrogenic)
1 week prior to surgery