kava and Breast-Neoplasms

The present study examined the anxiolytic effect of the herbal preparation Kavosporal forte in 20 patients with situationally induced anxiety.. The degree of anxiety was acute in that the patients were waiting for the results of a histopathological diagnosis, carried out on account of suspect mammary findings, and therefore feared they were suffering from a mammary carcinoma.. A significant reduction of anxiety compared with the placebo control was seen after a week's treatment with Kavosporal forte, levels of anxiety being measured a priori from the combined scores of two self-rating scales and one observer-rated scale. In addition, a significant increase was noted in alertness and a lessening of fatigue, introverted behavior and excitability as well as a reduction in levels of depression under the real therapeutic agent over the observation period. In none of the cases examined did any undesirable side effects occur, and the overall tolerance was also consistently good.. It could therefore be concluded that the preparation under investigation is well suited of amelioration of the anxiety that arises regularly in connection with a mammary biopsy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Breast Neoplasms; Depression; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Kava; Middle Aged; Perioperative Care; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Prospective Studies; Sick Role

The kava-kava plant (Piper methysticum) is traditionally consumed by the pacific islanders and has been linked to be involved in several biological activities. Flavokawain B is a unique chalcone, which can be found in the roots of the kava-kava plant. In this study, the operational mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of a synthetic Flavokawain B (FKB) on two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 was investigated.. Several in vitro assays were attempted such as MTT, flow cytometry of cell cycle analysis, annexin V analysis, and JC-1 analysis to detect apoptosis. Moreover, in vitro metastasis assays were also performed such as transwell migration assay, invasion assay, rat aorta ring and HUVEC tube formation. Molecular analysis of related genes and proteins were conducted using real-time PCR and proteome profiler analysis.. Based on our results, apoptosis was induced when both MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 were treated with FKB. A significant G2/M arrest was seen in MDA-MB231 cells. Additionally, FKB also inhibited the in vitro migration and invasion in MDA-MB231 cells in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, FKB can be a potential inhibitor in angiogenesis as it suppressed the formation of vessels in HUVEC cells as well as in the ex-vivo rat aortic ring assay.. Our findings suggested that FKB also regulated several receptor tyrosine kinases. Overall, FKB is not only a potential candidate to be an anti-cancer agent, but as an anti-metastatic agent as well.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Female; Flavonoids; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Kava; MCF-7 Cells; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Rats