Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Benign lung tumors Treatments In Traditional Chinese medicine

Saturday 23 November 2013

Benign lung tumors Treatments In Traditional Chinese medicine

Benign lung tumors, growth from many different structures in the lung, is defined as a conditions of abnormal cell growth with no tendency of spreading or masses that push normal cells out of the way rather than invading surrounding tissue restricted to a limited area in the lung. Approximately one out of 500 chest radiographs shows the incidental finding of a solitary pulmonary nodule and almost one half of these pulmonary lesions are caused by a tumor. Unfortunately, only 2% to 5% of all lung tumors are of benign origin, e. g. lipoma, fibroma, hamartoma, and chondroma, and the majority are malignant neoplasms, most commonly primary lung cancer followed by metastases of extrapulmonary primary carcinomas. According to the study by Universitätsklinik für Pneumologie(a)
E.3. In traditional Chinese medicine perspective
1. Emodin extracted from Chinese herbs
In the study to observe emodin-mediated cytotoxicity and its influence on Rad51 and ERCC1 expressionin non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), found that emodin exerted a suppressive effect on the proliferation of NSCLC in a concentration dependent manner. Protein and mRNA expression of ERCC1 and Rad51 was also significantly decreased with the dose. Vacuolar degeneration was observed in A549 and SK-MES-1 cell lines after emodin treatment by transmission electron microscopy. Emodin may thus inhibited cell proliferation in NSCLC cells by downregulation ERCC1 and Rad51(39).

2. Shenqi fuzheng
In China, Shenqi Fuzheng, a newly developed injection concocted from Chinese medicinal herbs has been reported that may increase efficacy and reduce toxicity when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy, but little is known about it outside of China. According to the study by the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, SFI intervention appears to be useful to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC, although this result needs to be further verified by more high-quality trials(40).

3. Astragalus-based Chinese herbs
In the study of 1,305 potentially relevant publications, 34 randomized studies representing 2,815 patients met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies (n = 940 patients) reported reduced risk of death at 12 months (risk ratio [RR] = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.87). Thirty studies (n = 2,472) reported improved tumor response data (RR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.46). In subgroup analyses, Jin Fu Kang in two studies (n = 221 patients) reduced risk of death at 24 months (RR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.68) and in three studies (n = 411) increased tumor response (RR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.53). Ai Di injection (four studies; n = 257) stabilized or improved Karnofsky performance status (RR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.46). Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine may increase effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy when combined with chemotherapy. These results require confirmation with rigorously controlled trials, according to the study by the University of California(41).

4. Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim (Cucurbitaceae)
Tianhua (TH-R) is extracted from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim (Cucurbitaceae) containing trichosanthin, a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been locally reported to have good anticancer effects in vivo in both animal and human models. According to the study by Chung Shan Medical University, it has been proven that medicinal herbs such as Tianhua have positive effects against cancer through preventing or inhibiting the process of lung tumorigenesis(42).