This page is composed of various quotes from the "American Cancer Society" Webpage titled "Complementary & Alternative Methods". I am also including quotes from "Pau D'Arco - Tabebuia Avellenedae" an article written by Amy Bigus, Deanna Massegill, and Christy Walker with references for both articles..In 1999 the American Cancer Society wrote an article on "Pau d'Arco" The following are excerpts from that article:
"The inner bark of the Pau d�Arco is said to be used by native tribes to make a tea which they drink as a remedy for a number of conditions such as malaria, anemia, cough, fever, syphilis, and cancer."
"Interest in Pau d�Arco arose in the mid-1960s when a Brazilian physician claimed that the substance relieved pain, increased the number of red blood cells, and "cured everything," including cancer. Since the early 1980s, Pau d�Arco has been sold in health food stores in the United States, where it is promoted as a treatment for virtually every kind of medical complaint, including arthritis, ulcers, diabetes, and cancer. Taken internally, it is thought to relieve infections, reduce inflammation, and promote good digestion. Proponents claim that lapacho "supports" the immune system and cleanses the body, and that it works as a treatment for immune deficiency disorders, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure. Anecdotal reports claim that it causes tumor regression. Applied externally, Pau d�Arco is a common alternative remedy for inflammatory skin conditions, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, eczema, and wounds."
"The bark contains at least 20 other active compounds, including quercetin and other flavonoids, whose effects are not yet known. Unconfirmed tests showed that crude extracts of pau d�arco bark (containing numerous compounds in addition to lapachol) stimulated activity of certain immune system cells (macrophages). The substance also killed lung cancer cells grown in culture and reduced the rate of lung metastases in mice who had undergone surgery to remove the initial tumor."
"It appears that the bark must be boiled for at least eight minutes to release the active ingredient. Most people who make tea from Pau d�Arco do not boil it long enough to produce a drink with any therapeutic potency".
"Another uncontrolled study found that, out of nine patients taking oral doses of lapachol for three or more weeks, one had complete tumor regression and two had partial regression. All patients reported subjective improvement, such as reduction of pain... all of the patients in this study had undergone previous conventional treatment for cancer. Thus it is not possible to determine which treatment produced which results."
"The American Cancer Society urges individuals with cancer to remain in the care of qualified doctors who use proven methods of treatment and approved clinical trials of promising new treatments. Patients are encouraged to talk openly with their health care providers about any alternative treatments they are considering, and to consider helpful complementary therapies that can be used effectively along with mainstream (or conventional) treatment."
REFERENCES:
Barrett S, Herbert V. Questionable cancer therapies. www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelated Topics/cancer.htmlDinnen RD, Ebisuzaki K. The search for novel anticancer agents: a differentiation-based assay and analysis of a folklore product. Anticancer Res. 1997;17(2A):1027-1033.
Mowry DB. Lapacho: Ancient herb, modern miracle. www.wisdomherbs.com/lapc.htm
Pau d�arco. www.rain-tree.com/paudarco.htm
U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Unconventional cancer treatments. Chapter 4: Herbal treatments. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, Sept 1990.
This second article, "Pau D'Arco" is an organized series of lists for the various headings written by the above authors:
General description
- Found in South American rain forests & mountains
- Bignonia family - about 100 species of lapacho trees but few yield high quality material
- Evergreen tree with rosy colored flowers
- Can grow to height of 125 feet
- Medicinal part = inner lining of bark (pholem)
- Use of whole bark (w/deadwood) naturally dilutes the activity of the material
History and Folk Use
Use inner bark for variety of conditions
- boils
- sore throat
- colitis
- snake bites
- dysentery
- poor circulation
- respiratory problems
- wounds
- prostatitis
- arthritis
- bed wetting
- cystitis
- fever
- constipation
- various cancers
- ulcers
Pharmacology
External and internal use for fevers, infections, colds and flu
Used to relieve pain, kill germs, increases urine flow, poison antidote
Similar to immuno-stimulants (echinacea in North America, ginseng in Asia)
Action exceeds both in potential as a cancer therapy
First active constituent studied was lapachol, but many studies show better results with the whole extract
- laxative effect
- antimicrobial activity
- anti-cancer effect
- antiparasitic activity
- anti-oxidant effect
- anti-fungal activity
- analgesic effect
- anti-inflammatory activity
Laxative Effect
- regular use will maintain regularity of bowel movements
- due to presence of napthaquinones & anthraquinones
- users report pleasant & moderate loosening of bowels, greater regularity w/o unpleasant S/Es (e.g. diarrhea)
Anti-oxidant effect
- inhibition of free radicals & inflammatory leukotrienes
- among antioxidants, few have greater potency than lapacho
Analgesic effect
- lessening pain associated with several kinds of cancer - especially prostate, liver & breast cancer
- also relieves arthritic pain
Anti-bacterial/Anti-parasitic action
- activity against gram-positive & acid-fast bacteria, yeast, fungi & viruses, strong activity vs. Brucella species
- anti-microbial activity (s with progressive purification
- Naphtoquinones – highly effective vs. Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes
- Lapchol = anti-microbial and anti-viral action
- Beta-lapachone = diversified anti-parasitic & anti-viral activity
- Alpha-lapachone = active vs. certain parasites
- Xyloldone = active vs. numerous bacteria and fungi
- causative agents of TB, dysentery & anthrax
- Lapachol – acts as respiratory poison by interfering with energy production of organism
- Taken PO, secreted onto skin via sebaceous glands where it acts a s a topical barrier, inactivating organisms after they contact the skin; throughout the GI tract, does the same of mucous membranes
- Mort = not well understood, but felt to involve the uncoupling of cellular respiration
Anti-inflammatory effects
- Extracts of bark have clear anti-inflammatory activity
- Tampons soaked in alcoholic extract are successful vs. a wide range of inflammations (cervicitis, cervicovaginitis, etc.)
Anti-cancer effects
- Uncouples mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation occurring in cancerous cells, but not healthy ones
- Inhibits proper functioning of ATPase (enzyme that catalyzed the final step in ATP formation)
- May block synthesis of pyrimidines in cancer cells (inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase) resulting in cellular death
- Interacts with nucleic acids of DNA helix in cancerous cells (prevents DNA replication)
- Beta-lapachone – stimulates lipid peroxidation producing toxic molecules in malignant cells to weaken them
- Absence of S/Es makes it the Tx of choice even with standard forms of therapy – eliminates the S/Es of cancer meds (pain, hair loss, immune dysfunction, etc.)
Anti-viral effects
- Actively inhibits, kills, or stunts the growth of several dangerous viruses:
- Herpes virus types I & II, polio, vesicular stomatitis, avian myeloblastosis, rauscho murine leukemia virus, etc.
- Beta-lapachone (N-factor) – inhibits enzymes in virus cells that directly affect DNA & RNA synthesis
- Potent inhibitor of reverse transcriptase
- Once processes are inhibited, the virus is unable to take over the reproductive processes of the cell and can't replicate itself & infect other cells.
- Yerbamate – sulfurous compound; when combined w/ lapacho, might provide a catalytic base to effectiveness of lapacho
Clinical Applications
- Antineoplastic activity
- Remission of different forms of cancer
- Antimicrobial activity
- Intestinal Candidiasis
- Vaginal Candidiasis
- Prevention of cold and flu
- Promotion of health of immune system
- Bowel health
- Positive effects on arthritis, pain, localized and systemic infections
Toxicity
- Oral LD50 = 1.2 - 2.4 g/kg
- No significant toxicity to healthy human cells
- Main side effects:
- nausea (*positive sign herb is working*) - due to accumulation of toxins & wastes
- anticoagulant effects (high doses)
- loose bowels, diarrhea (high doses)
Review of Literature
- Rao KV, McBride TJ and JJ Oleson. "Recognition and evaluation of lapachol as an anti-tumor agent." Cancer Research. 28:1952-4, October 1968.
Lapachol (2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone) is identified as an active compound isolated from the lapacho tree. Walker 256 rat carcinosarcoma showed sensitivity to lapachol by daily intraperitoneal injection at levels up to those producing limited toxicity. Lapachol exhibited marked effectiveness by oral route of administration with best activity shown with twice a day oral administration on Days 3-6.
- Dinnen RD and K Ebisuzaki. "The search for novel anticancer agents: a differentiation - based assay and analysis of a folk lore product." Anticancer Research. 17(2A):1027-33, March/April 1997.
Pau d'arco showed clear evidence of differentiation-inducing activity. In vitro studies showed lapachol activity at concentrations similar to that of many anti-cancer drugs. Activity on pau d'arco and lapachol was inhibited by vitamin K1. the structure of lapachol resembles that of vitamin K. Results indicate that the concentrations of lapachol and pau d'arco required for differentiation are considerably less than that required for cytotoxicity. The results also suggest that lapachol interacts with a vitamin-K-dependent reaction involved in the erythroid differentiation program. Targeted vitamin-K-requiring reactions may therefore include the activity of an oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase.
REFERENCES:
Dinner RD and K Ebisuzaki. "The search for novel anticancer agents: a differentiation - based assay and analysis of a folk lore product."Anticancer Research. 17(2A):1027-33, March/April 1997. "Questionable Methods of Cancer Management: 'nutritional' therapies." CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 43(5):309-319, 1993.
Mourey DB. "Lapacho, taheebo and Pau d'Arco: many names for nature's power plant." Health News and Review. Vol. 4, No. 1, p. 19(1), Winter 1994.
Murray MT. The Healing Power of Herbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996,.
Pizzorno JE and MT Murray. "Tabebuia Avellandedae," A Textbook of Natural Medicine. Bothell, WA: Bastyr University Publications, Vol. 1, 1996.
Rau KV, McBride TJ and JJ Oleson. "Recognition and evaluation of lapachol as an anti-tumor agent." Cancer Research. 28:1952-4, October 1968.