DURHAM, N.C. -- Restricting carbohydrates, regardless of weight loss, appears to slow the growth of prostate tumors, according to an animal study being published this week by researchers in the Duke Prostate Center.
"Previous work here and elsewhere has shown that a diet light in carbohydrates could slow tumor growth, but the animals in those studies also lost weight, and because we know that weight loss can restrict the amount of energy feeding tumors, we weren't able to tell just how big an impact the pure carbohydrate restriction was having, until now," said Stephen Freedland, M.D., a urologist in the Duke Prostate Center and lead investigator on this study.
The researchers believe that insulin and insulin-like growth factor contribute to the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer, and that a diet devoid of carbohydrates lowers serum insulin levels in the bodies of the mice, thereby slowing tumor growth, Freedland said.
n international consortium led by Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has narrowed the search for the gene or genes associated with inherited susceptibility to glioma, a deadly form of brain Cancer, to a region on chromosome 17.
"Berberine is a plant alkaloid isolated from the roots and bark of several herbs. Some of these herbs include:
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Berberis integerrima. Berbamine and berberine are found in the plant barberry.
Coptis chinensis or Berberis aristata
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)
Phellodendron Amurense
Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica).
The berberine alkaloid can be found in the roots, rhizomes, stem, and bark of the plants. Berberine-containing plants are used medicinally in many traditional medical systems, including Ayurvedic herbal and Chinese herbal medicine.
Coptis chinensis rhizome -- Golden Thread -- Huang Lian -- Intense yellow color most likely due to high content of berberine, which is very bitter in taste"