Alexander Kagansky’s study was published in a Russian Scientific Publication titled ActaNaturae in February 2019. Alexander Kagansky, a Russian scientist, holds an M.D. in Biophysics and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. He is currently the Director of a Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedicine at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. His study focuses on finding ways to cure cancer and regenerate tissues.
KAGANSKY’S STUDY
The study began with testing 5 different plants. Research regarding the various Mauritian flowering plants and their medicinal uses has been widely accepted, yet there has been little pursuit toward scientific evidence of their potential chemotherapeutic properties.
This study focused on evaluating the in vitro tumor cytotoxicity of the leaves of five plants. The scientists tested the five plants against six human cancer cell lines, including cervical adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
In the end, they found that 3 of the 5 plants had potential cancer cell inhibiting qualities. The leaves of Acalypha inefrifolia, Eugenia tinifolia, and Labourdonnaisia showed themselves effective against the division of the cancer cells for esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.
WHAT ARE “CANCER CELLS”?
Cancer cells are cells which no longer respond to the normal “cell death” that naturally occurs in our body. Cells and proteins are intended to serve their purpose and then be recycled. Cancer cells defy that act. Instead, they multiply by dividing themselves. (One becomes two, two becomes four, etc.) The more often they divide, the fewer “rules” of our biology that they follow. At a certain point, they then break through tissue barriers and spread throughout the body.
The herbs discovered on Mauritius stop that division process, which then allows for the biologically designed cell death. While the ability to stop the division related to a specific dose, the herbs proved particularly sensitive to esophageal squamous carcinoma cells in comparison to the other cancer cells tested against.
There is still much study and research required to understand how these plants create this effect on the cancer cells, but it does look very promising. Often, it is not just a simple matter of finding the plants and then making a drug. Understanding how and where the process is stopped is essential for continued attempts to find treatments for all forms of cancer and other diseases. These plants are the first to show us it can be stopped, and where.
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
The cancer type known as oesophageal cancer is becoming a global concern due to how late it is diagnosed, the aggressiveness of the disease, and the lack of selective treatments.
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma represent the 6th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Additionally, they have a 5-year survival rate of only 15% and a median survival rate of less than one year.
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma involves cancer cells that line the surface of the esophagus. Most commonly, it occurs in the upper and middle portions of the esophagus.
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma begins in the mucus-secreting glands in the esophagus and occurs mainly in the lower portion of the esophagus. This form is most common in the United States, and white men are the most affected.
The cause is currently unknown but the following factors may lead to chronic irritation of the esophagus, which is believed to increase your risk:
-- Having GERD (gastroesophageal reflux)
-- Smoking
-- Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous changes in the cells of the esophagus)
-- Obesity
-- Alcohol
-- Bile reflux
-- Achalasia (a condition where the esophageal sphincter doesn’t relax and therefore creates difficulty swallowing)
-- Chronically drinking hot liquids
-- Radiation treatment to the chest of the upper body
-- Not eating a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables
This disease is accompanied by gastrointestinal issues. Other symptoms include:
-- Difficulty swallowing
-- Worsening indigestion or heartburn
-- Coughing or hoarseness
-- Unintended weight loss
Broad spectrum chemotherapy is its current treatment. However, chemotherapy is associated with toxic side effects and has a low effective rate for esophageal cancer.
NATURAL PLANTS AS MEDICATION
Recently, scientists have been looking to native plants for medicinal uses. Worldwide, about 50,000-80,000 plants are used medicinally. Of the top 150 prescribed medications in the U.S., at least 118 are based on natural ingredients. 74% come from plants, 5 percent from bacteria, 18% from fungi, and three percent from vertebrate species. At least about 70% of new drugs in the U.S in the last 35 years are derived from these sources.
Anti-cancer drugs save at least 30,000 lives a year. Remission for childhood leukemia increased by 85% between 1960 and 1997 due to just two drugs that were made from plants on Madagascar’s rosy periwinkle plant.
Many cultures have been using their own wild species for disease or illness treatments for several thousands of years. China is one example. Additionally, on the island of Mauritius, scientists have observed the island’s herbologists using up to 150 different plants to treat various illnesses.
THE DANGER OF PLANT EXTINCTION
Sadly, many factors continue to contribute to the extinction of native plants. Of the 50,000 – 80,000 flowering plants used for medicinal uses, 15,000 may face extinction. It is estimated that we are losing at least one potential major drug every two years. Those drugs could have been a treatment for cancer, HIV, or for any deadly disease we face.
Part of the loss stems from the habitat being destroyed. As new and different islands become noticed by the public, there is a demand for the areas to become a tourist location. This demands land for hotels, homes, stores, utilities, etc. Destroyed habitat can also be caused by increased residential and commercial construction of homes and businesses as other areas become in demand for other resources: wood, oil, minerals, etc. There is no telling how many possible life-saving plants we have already destroyed globally due to mankind’s tremendous growth over our years on this planet.
AS STATED IN THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELIBERATIONS WHEN INTRODUCING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IN 1973:
“Who knows, or can say, what potential cures for cancer or other scourges, present or future, may lie locked up in the structures of plants which may yet be undiscovered, much less analyzed?… Sheer self-interest impels us to be cautious.”
Another factor is over-harvesting. About 15,000 plants face extinction due to over-harvesting or over-collection of native plants. This is considered such a concern that an organization was formed called the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network in order to watch and control global trade of wild plants. Part of the over-collection of plants includes when we do not use all of the plants.