Knotty but Nice: Spectacular Anti-Cancer Agents in Tree Knots

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29 Apr 2005 13:39:07 -0000

 

Subject:Knotty but Nice: Spectacular Anti-Cancer Agents in Tree Knots

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The Institute of Science in Society Science Society Sustainability

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Release 29/04/05 Knotty but Nice: Spectacular Anti-Cancer Agents in

Tree Knots

 

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Prof. Joe Cummins reports on further anti-cancer chemicals that are

found in common plant sources A fully referenced version of this

article is posted on ISIS members' website.

 

Details here Two years ago I wrote on how organic agriculture has the

potential to combat cancer. Plant chemicals called phenolics or

flavonoids, effective in preventing cancer, have been found elevated

in organic foods. Another family of plant chemicals related to

flavonoids, called lignans, recently yielded spectacular results in

preventing and treating human cancers.

 

Lignans contain two benzene rings to which are attached particular

three carbon arms. Lignans are not to be confused with lignin, the

polymer that binds cellulose fibers together to make cell walls.

Lignin is synthesized from monomer units similar to lignans, but

lignin is not associated with the beneficial properties of lignans.

 

A recent review suggested that an anti-cancer diet would decrease

breast, colorectal and prostate cancer by 60 to 70 percent and lung

cancer by 40 to 50 percent.

 

Taking flaxseed, especially its lignan fraction, lowers cancer risk.

Flaxseed lignan has been found effective not only in treating cancer

but also in reducing the risk of heart disease and to have beneficial

effects in lupus and polycystic kidney disease.

 

Flaxseed meal ameliorated kidney damage in type-two diabetes. The

anticancer effect of a plant lignan was demonstrated using human

prostate cancer cells transplants in nude (immune deficient) mice. Rat

mammary tumors were reduced after treatment with a plant lignan

isolated from the knots of spruce trees.

 

Along with flaxseed extracts the knots of trees are proving to be a

rich source of anti-cancer lignans. The knots of spruce and fir trees

are believed to be the richest source of lignans. Up to 24 percent of

the dry weight of the knot may be lignans, while much lower levels are

found in the stem wood.

 

Extracting lignans from the knots was not difficult. Knot-wood

extracts proved to be effective in controlling paper-mill bacteria

that undermine paper quality; and lignans were a deterrent to feeding

insects. These anti- microbial and insecticidal properties will no

doubt be further developed.

 

Not surprisingly, there has been a spate of patenting to exploit the

therapeutic potential of lignans. Of the many relevant patents, US

Patent 6451849 deals with the use of a lignan for cancer prevention,

and for treating non-cancer hormone-dependent disease and

cardiovascular disease.

 

The patent describes an active lignan and its preparation. US patent

67675654 describes a method for preparing plant lignan for use in

treating cancer, diabetes, lupus, hypertension and high blood

pressure. The first patent applications for genetically modified crops

with increased lignan content have begun to appear. US patent

application 20020174452 is for genetic modification of monocots such

as rice with genes that increase lignan level in grain using tissue

specific promoters.

 

It is not surprising that biotechnology has taken lignan to heart, and

that industry has a large and shameless public relations machinery

which will likely try to make it look as if biotechnology, and not

nature, that has invented lignans.

 

Like numerous other health-promoting natural chemicals, lignans are

common in plant species that are still widely available, although they

are increasingly threatened by industrial farming and especially GM

crops, which have now proved to be even more destructive of natural

biodiversity than conventional industrial farming ( " GM crop fails

final test " , ISIS report).

 

This is another reason for a comprehensive shift to sustainable

farming systems that preserve and enhance natural biodiversity.

Support our Sustainable World global initiative:

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/SustainableWorldInitiativeF.php

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press-release ISIS Director m.w.ho

 

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