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Gold
Coast, Aus. - A chance observation of a friend rubbing the juice of
devil's apple berries to heal eye cancer in cattle, has led to the
development of a cream which, Dr. Bill Cham says, can cure skin cancers.
Growing the plant initially in his own backyard, Dr. Cham said while the
ingredient works well on surface skin cancers, he sought an effective
base for the cream which would allow it to penetrate the skin and
attack the whole cancer.
"Having established a natural oil
emulsion that would do that, I then used hat same base to develop a
skin care range to treat other skin diseases and to restore damaged
skin," he said.
"It was a matter of using that new base as a vehicle
to supply known treatments and restorative substances to a wider
range of skin cancer areas."
Dr. Cham said the range of products
so far developed, and marketed under Curaderm, has proved successful
in treatment of skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, cold
sores and dermatitis.
"The alkaloid solasodine on its own does not
appear to be antineoplastic," he said.
"The solasodine has to be
conjugated to specific sugars in order to possess the anticancer
properties.
"Solamargine, a naturally occurring solasodine
triglycoside, binds to
endogenous endocytic lectins, which are
endogenous sugar receptors in tumors. This interaction initiates a
chain of events which results in internalization of solarmargine with
delivery of solasodine to the target cell."
Dr. Cham said his
company, Curacel International, has already achieved marketing
success with Curaderm in Europe and Indonesia.
Once approval from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is received, the company
plans an extensive marketing campaign, both in the U.S. and
Australia. Plans for Canada are unknown at this time.
Meanwhile, more
and more doctors are prescribing Curaderm for skin lesions, he said.
Curacel also produces a range of moisturizers, cleansers, and perfumes
at its Brisbane factory and laboratory.
Dr. Cham said sales of the
product range will fund further vital research into internal cancers.
"I feel there are great prospects for using solasodine glycoside against
bowel, lung and lymphatic cancers," he said
From Andrew Pengelley's Forium - www.nhaa.org.au
Backhousia myrtifolia
Myrtaceae
Common names:
Myrtle leaf, scrub ironwood
Description:
Medium sized evergreen tree with opposite, ovate /lanceolate leaves and white stellate flowers arranged in cymes.
Distribution:
The tree is found in sheltered gullies and alongside watercourses, it is very common in eastern Australia.
Part used:
Dried leaf
Constituents:
Essential oil - alkenebenzene derivatives including emelicin and trans-isoemelicin.
Tannins
Actions:
Carminative, astringent, sedative, anaesthetic, corrective, platelet inhibitor
Indications:
Dyspepsia, heartburn, colic, diarrhoea, irritable bowel, nervous tension & irritability
Toxicology:
Emelicin, a chemical component of the essential oil, is mildly genotoxic in rat hepatocytes, however it is not hepatocarcinogenic. Long term use of the herb during pregnancy is discouraged.
Preparations and dosage:
Infusion
F.E. 1:3, 1-3mls |
From the Editor
Emu Apple
Aromats - Essential, Sensual and Sublime
Thoughts On the'Industry body'
Native Food Production in SA
Report from WA
Quandong Q&A
A little pepper tale
Essential Oil Isolates from Backhousia
Feature - Diploglottis
Down on the farm
Sell before you sow, Part II
Organic Notes
Comment - Larry Geno
How do you say that?
Bushfoods go French
Aromats
Bird/Butterfly Bushfoods
Some thoughts on the industry - Brian King
From the papers
From the 'List'
Backhousia anisata
Diversification Workshop
Products
Recipes
Early collectors - Banks
More on DOOR
Potting Mixes for Bushfoods
Pest control
ANPI Fact Sheets
Somewhat useful page
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