Wie im experimentellen Teil gezeigt, hemmen gewissen Boswelliasäuren das Wachstum verschiedener Karzinomzellen in vitro durch
- Hemmung der Zellteilung (Proliferation)
- Hemmung der für die Zellteilung wichtigen Topoisomerasen
- Selbsttötung (Apoptose)
Studien, die eine Wirksamkeit eines Weihrauchextraktes oder von Boswelliasäuren beim Menschen beweisen, gibt es derzeit nicht.
Dagegen gibt es einige Studien, die eine Verminderung peritumoraler Hirnödeme nahelegen. Dies könnte etwas mit der ödemproduzierenden Wirkung von Leukotrien zu tun haben, über die manche Tumore verfügen.
Cysteinyl-leukotrienes as potential mediators of the peritumoral brain oedema in astrocytoma patients.
Heldt RM, Winking M, Simmet Th.
Dept. or Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ruhr University, D-44780 Bochum and Dept. of Neurosurgery, Justus-Liebig University, D-35385 Gießen, Germany.
We have previously observed that human malignant astrocytomas or glioblastomas synthesize large amounts of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LT) both in vitro as well as in vivo. Indeed patients with malignant astrocytomas were found to excrete large amounts of urinary LTE4 as determined by reverse phase HPLC and radioimmunoassay. After neurosurgical tumor removal urinary LTE4 excretion dropped to control levels. In cases with tumor recidives urinary LTE4 excretion increased again. Cysteinyl-LT could possibly contribute to the so-called perifocal brain oedema in such patients. Therefore, by computer-assisted tomography both peritumoral brain oedema as well as the brain tumor volume were determined. Analysis of the urinary LTE4 excretion revealed that a highly significant correlation exists between the urinary LTE4 excretion and the perifocal brain oedema volume. Treament of such patients with dexamethasone 4×4 mg/d over a 7 day period did not significantly affect neither the peritumoral oedema volume nor the urinary LTE4 excretion. It has recently been reported that boswellic acids contained in extracts from boswellia serrata are nonredox inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway (J Pharmacol Exp Ther 261:143, 1992). In a preliminary study we have tested the effects of such an extract, H15, available on the swiss market on urinary LTE4 excretion, on ex vivo cysteinyl-LT formation in ionophore A23187-stimulated whole blood and on perifocal brain oedema as assessed by CCT scans. Patients were treated with 3×3 tablets (400 mg/tablet) over 7 days. The parameters mentioned were determined before and after 7 days of treatment. The treatment regimen led to a significant decrease in all parameters, i.e. urinary LTE4 excretion, ex vivo cysteinly-LT formation as well as perifocal brain oedema volume. These results support the hypothesis that cysteinyl-LT might play a role in the pathogenesis of the peritumoral brain oedema in astrocytome or glioblastoma patients.
Archives of Pharmacology. Supplement to Volume 353 No.4 (1996) P 142
Die Rolle von Boswellia-Säuren in der Therapie maligner Gliome.
Böker DK, Winking M.
RESÜMEE: Boswellia-Säuren vermögen offenbar über eine Hemmung der Leukotrienensynthese durch Gliomzellen die Ausprägung des perifokalen Ödems günstig zu beeinflussen. Unsere Studie zeigt eine eindeutige Dosis/Wirkungsbeziehung. Aufgrund dieser Studie kann allerdings keine Aussage darüber gemacht werden, ob mit längerer Therapiedauer ein Nachlassen der Wirksamkeit eintritt. Während der nur siebentägigen Therapie hat sich ein belegbarer Effekt von Boswellia-Säuren auf die Tumorgröße im Sinne einer Tumorreduktion nicht nachweisen lassen. Allerdings hat sich in vitro an Gliomzell-Linien, die mit Boswellia-Säuresubtypen in Reinsubstanz inkubiert wurden, eine konzentrationsabhängige Abnahme vitaler Tumorzellen zeigen lassen. Hieraus könnte neben der antiödematösen Wirkung auch eine gliomzell-proliferationshemmende Wirkung abgeleitet werden. Dieser Schluß ist jedoch bei dem derzeitigen Stand der Kenntnisse verfrüht.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt 94, B 958 – B 960, 1997
Publikationen
| 1. | Boswellia serrata acts on cerebral edema in patients irradiated for brain tumors: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial. Kirste S, Treier M, Wehrle SJ, Becker G, Abdel-Tawab M, Gerbeth K, Hug MJ, Lubrich B, Grosu AL, Momm F
BACKGROUND: Patients irradiated for brain tumors often suffer from cerebral edema and are usually treated with dexamethasone, which has various side effects. To investigate the activity of Boswellia serrata (BS) in radiotherapy-related edema, we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot trial. |
| 2. | Temporary anti-cancer & anti-pain effects of mechanical stimulation of any one of 3 front teeth (1st incisor, 2nd incisor, & canine) of right & left side of upper & lower jaws and their possible mechanism, & relatively long term disappearance of pain & cancer parameters by one optimal dose of DHEA, Astragalus, Boswellia Serrata, often with press needle stimulation of True ST. 36. Omura Y, Horiuchi N, Jones MK, Lu DP, Shimotsuura Y, Duvvi H, Pallos A, Ohki M, Suetsugu A
One minute downward pressure on the tip of any one of the front 3 teeth (1st incisor, 2nd incisor, and canine) at the right and left sides of the upper and lower jaw by a wooden toothpick induced temporary disappearance (20 min approximately 4 hours) of abnormally increased pain parameters (pain grading, Substance P, & TXB2), and cancer parameters (Telomere, Integrin alpha5beta1, Oncogene C-fos Ab2, etc. of Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma, squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus, adenocarcinoma of lung, breast cancer, adenocarcinoma of colon, prostate cancer). The effect included temporary disappearance of headache, toothache, chest and abdominal pain, and backache, often with improved memory & concentration. Since these beneficial changes resembled the effects of giving one optimal dose of DHEA, increase of DHEA was measured. Above mechanical stimulation of one of these front teeth increased abnormally reduced DHEA levels of less than 10 ng to norm1 100 approximately 130 ng BDORT units and normal cell (NC) telomeres from markedly reduced values to near normal values, and improved acetylcholine in the Hippocampus. Large organ representation areas for the Adrenal gland & Hippocampus may exist at these front teeth. This method can be used for emergency pain control and can explain the beneficial effect of bruxism and tooth brushing, through the increase of DHEA levels and activities of the Hippocampus by increasing Acetylcholine. Increasing NC telomere to optimally high level resulted in disappearance of pain and improvement or significant reduction of malignant tumor. Repeated daily press needle stimulation of True ST. 36 increased NC telomere 450-700 ng BDORT units. One optimal dose of DHEA increased NC telomere 525 ng DBORT units and eliminated the pain and abnormally increased cancer parameters; effect of one optimal dose lasted 0.5-11 months. One optimal dose of Boswellia Serrata or Astragalus not only increased NC telomere 650 ng BDORT units, eliminating pain and cancer parameters, but also reduced the size of the Astrocytoma grade I by 10-20% and the Glioblastoma by 15-90% in less than 2-6 months in some patients, as long as high NC telomere is maintained. |
| 3. | [Effects of aroma hand massage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer]. Chang SY
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma hand massage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer. |
| 4. | A lipoxygenase inhibitor in breast cancer brain metastases. Flavin DF
The complication of multiple brain metastases in breast cancer patients is a life threatening condition with limited success following standard therapies. The arachidonate lipoxygenase pathway appears to play a role in brain tumor growth as well as inhibition of apoptosis in in-vitro studies. The down regulation of these arachidonate lipoxygenase growth stimulating products therefore appeared to be a worthwhile consideration for testing in brain metastases not responding to standard therapy. Boswellia serrata, a lipoxygenase inhibitor was applied for this inhibition. Multiple brain metastases were successfully reversed using this method in a breast cancer patient who had not shown improvement after standard therapy. The results suggest a potential new area of therapy for breast cancer patients with brain metastases that may be useful as an adjuvant to our standard therapy. |
| 5. | Response of radiochemotherapy-associated cerebral edema to a phytotherapeutic agent, H15. Streffer JR, Bitzer M, Schabet M, Dichgans J, Weller M
Twelve patients with brain tumors and progressive edema caused by tumor progression or radiochemotherapy-related leukoencephalopathy were treated with H15, a phytotherapeutic anti-inflammatory agent. Edema was reduced in two of seven patients with glioblastoma with tumor progression and in three of five patients with treatment-related leukoencephalopathy. All patients with leukoencephalopathy improved clinically for several months. |
| 6. | Boswellic acids in the palliative therapy of children with progressive or relapsed brain tumors. Janssen G, Bode U, Breu H, Dohrn B, Engelbrecht V, Göbel U
19 children and adolescents with intracranial tumors received a palliative therapy with H 15 at a maximum dose of 126 mg/kg BW/day. All patients had previously been treated with conventional therapy. No side effects were observed during a median 9 months application. The recently reported antiedematous effect of H 15 was documented by MRI in one patient with a peritumoral edema, thus sparing steroid therapy with its typical side effects. Five/19 children reported an improvement of their general health status; this might be a psychological effect of hope for tumor response during palliative care. Three/17 patients with malignant tumors showed a mainly transient improvement of neurological symptoms such as pareses and ataxia. Three further patients showed an increased muscular strength and one cachectic patient achieved a weight gain. These improvements might be attributed to the antiedematous effect of H 15. Because of the palliative situation of these patients, H 15 application was performed without prior rebiopsy for histological evaluation. Overlapping effects with a previous radiotherapy or chemotherapy may have occurred. An antiproliferative effect cannot be stated. To prevent an uncritical use of H 15, further studies with prospective central documentation have to be initiated to evaluate the clinical indications for H 15 in palliative therapy, optimal dosage and duration of application. |