holy smoke

[Guest guest]

Breast Cancer and Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum)

It is in America's medical establishment - especially in the many outstanding

cancer research centers - that traditional Indian medicine is confronting

western science and proving that it has something worthwhile to offer. No wonder

the power of Tulsi and of turmeric, so common to Desis everywhere, is now

beginning to amaze Americans.

Click Here!

And in many instances the work is being done by Indian-American scientists or in

collaboration with scientists in India.

Take ongoing research on the holy Tulsi plant (Ocimum Sanctum) at Karmanos

Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan, or the common spice Turmeric (Curcuma

Longa) at MD Cancer Research Center in Houston.

In the case of Tulsi or India's holy basil, Ayurvedic practice recommends Tulsi

in several formulations to enhance immunity and metabolic functions as well as

in the management of respiratory problems. Recent pharmacological studies have

established the anabolic, hypoglycemic, smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac

depressant, antifertility, adaptogenic and immunomodulator properties of this

plant.

KARMANOS INSTITUTE

Surprisingly enough, in 2006, research scientists at Karmanos Cancer Institute

announced findings of their study titled Inhibition of breast cancer progression

by the medicinal herb Ocimum Sanctum at the American Association for Cancer

Research (AACR) conference in Washington, D.C.

They asked the question, can this herb curb breast cancer growth?

Ocimum Sanctum or Tulsi or Holy basil is part of the mint family that has been

used in Indian homes for hundreds of years. The researchers were interested in

studying the effects of the herb, which appear to have anti-oxidant, chemically

induced cancer-inhibiting and anti-inflammatory properties, on human breast

cancer using a mouse model system.

The study by Pratima Nangia-Makker, Ph.D., assistant professor (Res.), Tumor

Progression and Metastasis Department, Karmanos Cancer Institute, suggests that

the potential benefits of Holy basil are believed to stem from Ursolic acid, a

component of the herb. Ursolic acid has protective qualities on nerve, liver and

skin tissues, as well as immune modulatory effects. Most importantly, Holy basil

seems to offer significant protection against cancer and cancer-causing

substances.

Drugs Online - Buy Drugs Online at reasanoble prices.DrugOnline.cc provides

confortable and easy way to order drugs online including drugs free shipping.

" Our research shows that ocimum sanctum, also known as Holy basil, appears to

inhibit the size and progression of the tumor in relation to breast cancer, and

it also reduces the number of the blood vessels leading to the tumor without

causing any harm to the healthy tissue and cells of the body, and has no side

effects, " said Nangia-Makker.

Restricting the number of blood vessels supplying a tumor, reduces the risk of

the cancer escaping the primary tumor and metastasizing to other organs. It also

acts to starve the cancer by blocking the tumor from receiving its supply of

oxygen and nutrients, causing the cancerous cells to die.

Holy basil was tested using a cell line derived by Fred , Ph.D. from the

MCF-10A cell line, an immortal line of normal breast cancer cells developed in

1989 by Herbert Soule, Ph.D., a former researcher at the Karmanos Cancer

Institute. The cell line is the first of its kind to be cultured without the use

of transforming agents, and is used to study the earliest changes a normal cell

undergoes in becoming cancerous.

According to Dr. Nangia-Makker, preliminary results of her research show Holy

basil may affect cancer in a similar way to chemotherapeutic agents that slow or

stop the growth and progression toward malignancy of breast cancer cells in the

body. However, extensive time course studies need to be conducted to help

further support this claim.

In the future, Holy basil could be developed into a breast cancer preventative

and therapeutic agent, and could possibly be taken in a pill form or ingested as

a drink alone. It could also be taken in combination with other chemotherapeutic

agents, reducing their dose and thus the harmful side effects, the researchers

say.