The Impact of Cruciferous Vegetable and Soy Phytochemicals on Prostate Cancer Cell Progression

Background: Prostate cancer is a disease of aging, particularly in nations of affluence, with risk increasing several hundred-fold from age 40 to 75. Indeed, as one of the most common malignancies in Americans, it is a significant health care burden. In addition, prostate cancer treatment strategies result in significant negative impacts on quality of life for a growing number of senior citizens. Therefore, prevention strategies are critically needed. Accumulating research suggests that several dietary factors may reduce risk, such as consumption of cruciferous vegetables, soy, and tomatoes. Our laboratory work and others suggests that specific components of these foods demonstrate anticancer properties, such as inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to activation of cell death programs (apoptosis). Objective: We hypothesize that bioactive phytochemicals can be combined in specific combinations within carefully designed functional foods that meaningfully contribute to the prevention of prostate cancer progression. We evaluated the combined effects of the bioactive components in arugula in cell-based studies, using erucin, sulphoraphane and genistein. Design: Prostate cancer cells (PC3) were treated in vitro with 5-20 uM of sulforaphane, 5-20 uM of erucin, and 5-40 uM of genistein, alone and in specific combinations. Cell viability was measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment using the Sulforhodamine B method to investigate the combined contribution of proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, preliminary cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry was conducted to determine the impact of erucin and genistein alone and in combination on cell cycle progression. Results: Cruciferous vegetables components at 20 uM such as sulforaphane (high in broccoli) and erucin (high in arugula) were equally effective at 72 hours with 75% vs 80% viability respectively. Genistein (20 uM) from soy foods was also modestly effective, reducing viability by 35%. Erucin and genistein display unique time and dose dependent profiles of inhibition. Significance: Laboratory in vitro studies may help us define combinations of phytochemicals that have combined anticancer effects, helping us to design novel food products (e.g. a vegetable juice) for future human studies.No embarg

Ethnopharmacological investigation of plants used to treat susto, a folk illness

Selected plants used to treat susto, a folk illness recognized by various groups of Latin America, were screened for anxiolytic and/or fear suppression activity in behavioral assays. We found that the plant used by most of the healers interviewed (Adiantum tetraphyllum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.; Adiantaceae) suppressed certain components of anxiety and fear. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the biological activity of Adiantum tetraphyllum. This finding supports the contention that susto may represent what in the Western culture is defined as fear or anxiety, and hence may share the same psychological, biological or neural underpinnings. In light of the available literature, this represents the first experimental investigation of the biological activity of plants specifically in the perspective of their use in treating a culture-bound syndrome

A review of Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology of traditional medicines used by Q’eqchi' Maya healers of Xna'ajeb' aj Ralch'o'och', Belize.

This review describes an Indigenous led project by Q’eqchi’ Maya healers of Belize to strengthen and improve traditional botanical healing. Goals of the project were to conserve medicinal plant knowledge, leading to ethnobotanical studies, and to conserve the plants themselves, by creating a community ethnobotanical garden. A total of 169 medicinal species were collected in the ethnobotanical survey, which provided unique knowledge on many rainforest species of the wet lowland forest of Southern Belize, not found in neighbouring Indigenous cultures. Consensus on plant uses by the healers was high indicating a well conserved codified oral history. After horticultural experimentation by the healers, the Indigenous botanical garden provided a habitat for and conservation of 102 medicinal species including many epiphytes that were rescued from forested areas. Ethnopharmacological studies by the university partners showed a pharmacological basis for, and active principles of plants used for epilepsy and anxiety, for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, for dermatological mycoses, and for type 2 diabetes complications. Overall, the project has provided a model for Indigenous empowerment and First Nation’s science, as well as establishing this traditional medicine as an important, unified healing practice, that can safely and effectively provide primary healthcare in its cultural context.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author