Botanicals for Lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. (The most common) Flashcards
Agaricus bisporus (White button mushroom)
Agaricus bisporus; Agaricaceae
Part— whole mushroom
Constituents— fiber– chitin; amino acids; fatty acids– linoleic acid, linolenic acid; protein; sterol; vitamins– D (if UVB); beta-glucans; ergosterol; ergothioneine; flavonoids;
Actions— anticancer; microbiome support; metabolic support if in olive oil; elevate salivary IgA;
Prostate— 40-140 g/d decr. PSA in 36%; stable in rest;
Ovarian— 2g/d reduce odds of ovarian cancer 32%;
Posology— 2-140 g/d lightly sauteed in butter/extra virgin olive oil w/ Allium cepa/A. sativa;
Pregnancy and Lactation— considered safe
Ergosterol,
Agaricus blazei; Agaricaceae (Sun mushroom)
Other— A. subrufescens, A. brasiliensis, A. rufotegulis;
Part— aerial’
Constituents— polysaccharides– beta-glucan, alpha-glucan; lipids– ergosterol, sterols; hydrazines; protein; vit B1, B2, B9, B12, C, D, E;
Actions— anticancer; antifatigue; immune regulation; anti-metabolic syndrome; hepatoprotective;
Other— antimicrobial; antioxidant; hypoglycemic; immunomodulatory;
Cancer trials— with carboplatin, carboplatin + taxol in GYN cancers > appetite, less alopecia, greater emotional stability, and > strength vs chemotherapy only; prevented 5-FU leukopenia;
Hepatitis B— AST, ALT decreased;
Posology— often as a decoction; 500 mg – 5.4 g TID; freeze-dried;
Pregnancy and Lactation— no data
Caution— level of hydrazine (a suspected genotoxin) has not demonstrated hepatotoxicity;
Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom); Polyporaceae
Trametes versicolor; Polyporaceae
Other— Coriolus versicolor, Polyporus versicolor;
Part— aerial; woody mushroom on tree/logs;
Constituents— amino acids; polysaccharides– beta-glucan, polysaccharide krestin (PSK), polysaccharide peptide (PSP);
Actions— anticancer; antioxidant; antifatigue; radiation fatigue; antimetabolic syndrome;
PSK— approved Tx in Japan; trials in breast, gastric, colorectal and lung cancer; all with chemotherapy/radiotherapy; improves lymphocytes, NK cell activity, CD8+ T cells, and CD19+ B cells;
PSP— trials with leukemia, lymphoma, stomach, lung; reduced MMP-9; all with chemotherapy; human trials– breast, prostate, liver;
Posology— 1-3 g TID; PSP 1 g TID; PSK 1g TID; TCM 6-9 g QD;
Pregnancy and Lactation— do data; considered safe
Krestin
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi); Ganodermataceae
Ganoderma lucidum; Ganodermataceae
Part— whole mushroom; woody mushroom;
Constituents— polysaccharide; peptidoglycans; triterpenes; alkaloids; adenosine; sterols; minerals;
Actions— replenish Qi; eases the mind (shen); relieves cough and asthma; anticancer; anti-inflammatory;
Other— hepatoprotective; antibacterial; antidiabetic; antiviral; libido tonic; nervine tonic; antihyperlipidemic; URTI Infections;
Cancer— use yields 1.27x better response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; regulated cell cycles of apoptosis and autophagy;
Hepatitis B— inhibits viral replication;
RA— with San Miao San (Phellodendron chinense, Atractylodes lancea, Achyranthes bidental, Coid lacryma-jobi) relieved pain, improved function;
Posology— ⌀ 3-5 mL TID; decoction 3-15 g QD; encapsulated (GL-PS rich polysaccharide) 600 mg TID;
Pregnancy and Lactation— no data;
Grifola frondosa (Maitake); Meripilaceae
Part— whole mushroom; formerly Polyporaceae;
Habitat— older oak, maple, elm; Maitake Mushroom;
Constituents— protein; Vit D2; minerals; beta-glucans– D-fraction, MD fraction, X-fraction, grifolan, MZ fraction, MT-alpha-glucan;
Actions— microbiome fibre; anti-NAFLD; T2D; anti-cancer; antihypertensive; antihyperlipidemic; anti-viral;
Other— anti-inflammatory; hypoglycemic; antioxidant;
Anticancer— MM46 LV; human colon; S180 sarcoma; H22 Hepatocarcinoma;
Part— whole mushroom; formerly Polyporaceae;
Habitat— older oak, maple, elm; Maitake Mushroom;
Constituents— protein; Vit D2; minerals; beta-glucans– D-fraction, MD fraction, X-fraction, grifolan, MZ fraction, MT-alpha-glucan;
Actions— microbiome fibre; anti-NAFLD; T2D; anti-cancer; antihypertensive; antihyperlipidemic; anti-viral;
Other— anti-inflammatory; hypoglycemic; antioxidant;
Anticancer— MM46 LV; human colon; S180 sarcoma; H22 Hepatocarcinoma;
Antibacterial– Listeria monocytogenes; Clostridium difficile;
Antiviral— HBV; HSV-1; inhibits replication;
Posology— 1.5 –7 g dried QD; 2 g 400 mg beta-glucans; .02 – 10 mg/kg in dose escalation human trials;
Lentinula edodes (Shitake); Omphalotaceae. It kind of looks like a bun is on top
Name— Agaricus edodes; Shitake;
Part— aerial
Constituents— polysaccharide– lentinan; eritadenine; minerals; vitamins– D2, B1, B2, B6, B3, B12;
Actions— immune modulation; antitumor; GI microbiome; antioxidant;
Other— antihyperlipidemic; antimicrobial; anti-T2D; hepatoprotective; anti-osteoporotic;
Posology— 6-12 g QD; AHCC (fermented) 4.5-6 g QD; lentinan IV 2-10 mg weekly;
Caution— ‘shitake dermatitis’ from raw or undercooked ~ 24 hour onset after consumption, lots of sun exposure can aggravate it; Tx– cook thoroughly;
Ophicordyceps sinensis; Ophiocordycipitaceae
Nomenclature— Cordyceps sinensis; harvest down 90% since 1987; now ~$25,000 USA per kg; Paecilomyces hepialid; Cordyceps militaris;
Part— whole mushroom
Constituents— nucleosides– > 10 known, adenine, adenosine, thymine, thymidine, cordycepin; sterols– ergosterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol; fatty acids >10, palmitic, oleic; ;
Actions— anticancer; antiaging; antithrombosis; anti-arrhythmia; antihypertensive; immune modulation;
Other— TCM KI, LU, and LV, protective; antifatigue;
Macrophages express adenosine A2A, A2B, A3 receptors, activation downregulates IL-12, TNF-alpha, and up regulates IL-10;
Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus); Fabaceae. The champion of A’s, adaptogen, anti-cancer, antiaging, anti-inflammatory. It’s also cardioprotective even against viral myocarditis.
Part— root from 4-7 yo; perennial;
Constituents— aglycones; flavonoids– kaempferol, sulfuretin; polysaccharides– astragalans I, II, III; triterpenoid saponin glycosides; amino acids;
Actions— adaptogen; anti-inflammatory; cardioprotective; chemotherapeutic complement; hematopoietic;
Other— Qi tonifier; antiaging; immune modulation; cardioprotective; viral myocarditis;
NSCL Cancer— with platinum chemotherapy fewer deaths at 6 mo, reduced chemo toxicity, incr. tumor response, > QOL;
Diabetic neuropathy— 30 g QD for 2 mo improved KI function;
Cancer— induce maturation of bone marrow cells;
Posology— decoction 2-4 tsp/cup TID; ⌀ 4-8 mL TID, 30-60 gtt TID; change of season soup QD for 1-2 weeks;
Pregnancy and Lactation— safe in pregnancy; no data in lactation;
Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen); Campanulaceae
Part— root 3-4 yo;
Constituents— sesquiterpene lactones; triterpenes; polysaccharides; flavones– hesperidin; pyrrolidine alkaloids; glycoside; organic acids;
Actions— adaptogen; immune modulatory; antitumor;
Other— with chemo/radio therapy; ovarian, breast, hepatocellular; COPD; memory with Ginkgo biloba;
Posology— decoction 9-30 g QD; ⌀ 1-4 mL TID, 20-60 gtt ITD; change of season soup QD 1-2 weeks;
Pregnancy and Lactation— commonly used in TCM; Qi and SP tonic; nourishes fluids; nourishes LU; stimulates blood; warms middle burner;
Platelet aggregation— may affect;
Eleuthrococcus senticosus; Araliaceae
Eleuthrococcus senticosus; Araliaceae
Part— root; root bark
Constituents— lignans; glycans; hydroxycoumarins; triterpene saponins; steroid glycosides– eleuthroside A, B; polysaccharides; flavonoids;
Actions— adaptogen; anticancer; anti-inflammatory;
Other— angina; chemo/radio therapy adjuvant; T2D; endurance; neuroprotective; enhance antibiotic use;
Posology— decoction 2-3 g TID; ⌀ 3-5 mL TID, 20-60 gtt TID;
Pregnancy and Lactation— safe;
Eleutheroside B
Panax ginseng (Korean or Chinese), P. quinquefilius (North American); Araliaceae
Part— root 4-5 yo;
Constituents— steroidal glycosides; steroidal saponins; ginsenosides >150, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re; sterols; polysaccharides;
Actions— adaptogen; anticancer; anti-inflammatory;
Other— chemo/radio therapy adjuvant; T2D; endurance; enhances antibiotic use; enhances vaccines immune response;
TCM— yang tonic; tonifies Qi, LU and augments Qi; strengthens SP; tonifies ST; benefits HT and Qi, calms the spirit;
Cancer— synergistic w/ tamoxifen, Cytoxan, doxorubicin, taxol, methotrexate;
T2D— potentiates metformin; sulfonylureas;
Posology— decoction 2-9 g QD; ⌀ 1-2 mL TID, 10-40 gtt TID; standardized extract (5% ginsenosides) 500 mg TID;
Pregnancy and Lactation— used in TCM;
Rhodiola rosea
Rhodiola rosea; Crassulaceae
Part— root
Constituents— polyphenols; organic acids; essential oils; salidroside, tyrosol;
Actions— adaptogen; nerve support; cognitive support;
Other— prolongs neurotransmitters– dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine; cognitive– attention, memory, learning; anti-inflammatory; cardioprotective; anticancer;
Stress— improves mental and physical function during stress;
Posology— 200- 700 mg QD standardized (1-2% salidrosiodes);
Pregnancy and Lactation— no data;
Which herb is used primarily to reduce PSA levels in prostate cancer?
A. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom)
B. Agaricus bisporus (White button mushroom)
C. Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom)
D. Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi)
Correct Answer: B. Agaricus bisporus (White button mushroom)
Rationale:
Agaricus bisporus: Research shows it lowers PSA levels, particularly at higher doses (40–140 g/day).
Ganoderma lucidum: While it has immunomodulatory and anticancer properties, there is limited evidence supporting its direct effect on PSA levels.
Trametes versicolor: Used for immune support in cancer patients, but not specifically for PSA reduction.
Astragalus membranaceus: Supports immunity and stress resilience but lacks evidence for PSA modulation.
Which botanical contains beta-glucans beneficial in cancer therapy?
A. Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom)
B. Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen)
C. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
D. Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi)
Correct Answer: A. Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushroom)
Rationale:
Trametes versicolor: Its beta-glucans, such as PSK and PSP, are proven to enhance immunity and improve survival rates in cancer therapy.
Codonopsis pilosula: An adaptogen supporting energy and immunity but lacks specific beta-glucan content.
Eleutherococcus senticosus: Functions as an adaptogen but does not contain beta-glucans.
Astragalus membranaceus: Immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory, but beta-glucans are not its primary constituents.
Which herb’s hydrazine content raises safety concerns despite its therapeutic potential?
A. Agaricus blazei (Royal sun mushroom)
B. Lentinula edodes (Shiitake mushroom)
C. Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng)
D. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
Correct Answer: A. Agaricus blazei (Royal sun mushroom)
Rationale:
Agaricus blazei: Contains hydrazine, a possible genotoxin, leading to safety concerns.
Lentinula edodes: Contains lentinan, a beta-glucan with anticancer properties but no hydrazine.
Panax ginseng: Known for adaptogenic and anticancer properties without any hydrazine-related issues.
Eleutherococcus senticosus: Primarily an adaptogen with no hydrazine content or related risks
