Plumbagin vs. Cancer

The blossoming flower of Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

Plumbago zeylanica Linn., or known as daun encok, in Bahasa Indonesia, is an African wild bush that can grow near a river, and highlands up to 800 m asl. Plumbago zeylanica has been used as folk medicine, in Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Plumbago zeylanica is believed to be originated from Sri Lanka. (Sentra Informasi IPTEK)

Plumbago zeylanica is also known by many common names, such as, Ceylon leadwort, doctorbush, white flowered leadwort (English), chitrakmool, citrak, agni, chitra, chitraka (India, Pakistan), bama (Balinese), ki encok (Sundanese), godong encok (Javanese), kareka (Maduranese), ceraka (Sumatera), and oporie (Timor Leste).

Several studies have indicated that plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), compounds isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica, possess antifertility, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, plumbagin have been proven to possess anti-tumor activity both, in vitro, and in vivo.

The roots of Plumbago zeylanica have been used in Ayurveda for more than 2500 years ago, as an anti-atherogenic (helps manage healthy cholesterol, and triglyceride levels), cardiotonic (a cardiac stimulant, which acts as a stimulant of the heart), hepatoprotective (an antihepatotoxicity, the ability to prevent damage to the liver), and neuroprotective (the ability to exert a destructive, or poisonous effect upon nerve tissue) agent.

Plumbagin and Leukemia

An in vivo study by Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China, was aimed to investigate the anticancer effect of plumbagin, using human promyelocytic leukemia (a cancer of the blood forming tissue) cells, NB4, in NOD/SCID (Non Obese Diabetic/ Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) mice. The study was observed the incidence of formation, growth characteristics, body weight, and volume of tumors.

The results showed that intraperitoneal injection (IP injection, the injection of a substance into the peritoneum, or body cavity)of plumbagin (2mg/kg body weight) daily, for three weeks, resulted to a 64.49% reduction of tumor volume.

Moreover, there was no side effects, such as, weight loss, tissue damage, and behavior change, which appeared in doxorubicin (adriamycin, a chemotherapy drug given to treat many different types of cancer) treated mice. The results indicated that plumbagin has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for myeloid leukemia. (Xu KH, et al. 2010)

Plumbagin and Gastric Cancer

A study which aimed to investigate the effects of plumbagin, on human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, MKN-28, and AGS), had resulted that 10 μmol/L of plumbagin managed to controll the expression of NF-κB gene products, including IAP1 (Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein 1), XIAP (X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein), Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), Bcl-xL (B cell lymphoma extra long), TF (Tumor Factor), and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor).

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The study concluded that plumbagin managed to inhibit cell growth, and have potentially apoptosis, in human gastric cancer cells, through the NF-κB pathway. (Li J, et al. 2012)

Plumbagin and Skin Cancer

Two types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma may occur in normal skin, or in skin that has been injured, or inflamed. A study at University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA, presented the application of non toxic doses (100-500 nmol) of plumbagin, which managed to inhibit the development of squamous cell carcinomas, in ultraviolet radiation induced mice.

During the period of the experiment, mice were gained weight and did not exhibit any signs of toxicity. The study suggested that plumbagin may be used as a novel agent for the prevention of skin cancer. (Sand JM, et al. 2012)

Plumbagin and Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the most aggressive malignant disease, in which became the fourth most leading cause of cancer related death among men, and women, in the United States. Another study at University of Wisconsin, demonstrated the effect of plumbagin against pancreatic cancer cells (PANC1, BxPC3 and ASPC1) in mouse model.

The IP injection of plumbagin (2 mg/kg body weight), for 5 days, in SCID mice, which began three days after the implantation of PANC1 cells, had resulted in a significant inhibition of both tumor weight, and volume. The study suggested that plumbagin, which had shown to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells, both in vitro, and in vivo model systems, may be used as a novel therapeutic agent against human pancreatic cancer. (Hafeez BB, et al. 2012)

Plumbagin and Prostate Cancer

Recent study by Bilal Bin Hafeez, which was indexed in PubMed, seven months later, after the previous study, presented that plumbagin inhibits growth, and metastasis of human prostate cancer (PC-3M-luciferase cells) in mouse model. The study suggested that plumbagin could be used as a therapeutic agent for the prevention, and treatment of human prostate cancer, because managed to inhibits tumor growth, and metastasis of human prostate cancer, PC3-M-luciferase cells. (Hafeez BB, et al. 2013)

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Plumbagin and Lung Cancer

Recent study at Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China, had demonstrated the effects of plumbagin on proliferation (rapid reproduction of a cell, part, or organism), and apoptosis (the process of programmed cell death, or death of a cell in any form), in human non small cell lung cancer cell lines (A549, H292 and H460). All cancer cell lines were treated with various concentrations of plumbagin.

The study concluded that plumbagin managed to inhibit cell growth, and induce apoptosis, in human lung cancer cells, through inactivation of NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappaB, a protein complex that controls the transcription of DNA, in which regulates several genes associated with inflammation, proliferation, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis). (Xu TP, et al. 2013)

Plumbagin and Human Tongue Carcinoma

Recent study at Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, reported the inhibitory effect, and the underlying mechanism of plumbagin, on the growth of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (Tca8113). The study resulted that plumbagin inhibited the growth, proliferation, and induced the apoptosis of Tca8113 cells, in vitro, in a concentration, and time dependent manner. (Qiu JX, et al. 2013)

Even though from several studies above, had shown that plumbagin inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, both in vitro, and in vivo model systems, but all studies were only using human cancer lines, in mouse model, and not in real cancer patients. Further studies are still needed to be demonstrated in real cancer patients.

Link Between Passive Smoker and Lung Cancer

A chest X-ray showing a tumor in the lung (marked by arrow).

Lung cancer, an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells in tissues of the lung, is the most common cancer in the world. I had described this in my earlier post, that lung cancer contributed 12.7%, or 1,608,055 new cases, in 2008. The death rate was 18,2%, or 1,376,579 cases of cancer death worldwide.

Cigarette smoking causes mostlung cancers. The more cigarettes to smoke per day, and the earlier age of starting to smoke, the greater the risk of getting lung cancer. Other risks include, high levels of pollution, radiation, asbestos exposure, and first degree family history of any cancers especially lung cancer, may also increase the risk.

The most common symptoms of lung cancer, include:

• A cough that does not heal, and even gets worse by coughing up blood.
• Wheezing, or hoarseness, due to shortness of breath, a breathing difficulty, which involves a sensation of difficult, or uncomfortable breathing, or a feeling of not getting enough air.
• Chest pain, discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere, along the front of your body, between your neck and upper abdomen, that does not heal.
• Regular problems of having pneumonia, or bronchitis.
• Swelling of the neck and face.
• Suddenly of having weight loss, due to loss of appetite.
• Always suffering from fatigue, although was not doing any hard works.

There are many types of lung cancer. Each type of lung cancer is treated differently, because the cancer cells grow, and spread in different ways. Treatments depend on the stage, in which include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. (MedlinePlus)

Link Between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer

Passive smokers, or second hand smokers, are people who are exposed by environmental tobacco smoke from an active smoker. Environmental tobacco smoke is also known as pollutants from smoker's lung.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, is generally believed to increase the risk by 25%, of coronary heart disease (CHD), and lung cancer among never smokers. The increased risk is based primarily on meta analysis, and is still controversial due to methodological problems. A researcher, James E. Enstrom, with his associate professor, Geoffrey C. Kabat, was shocking the world, when British Medical Journal published his study, in 2003.

The study was based on cancer prevention study (CPS I) conducted by the American Cancer Society, among 118,094 adults, in 1959, and the follow up study until 1972. Enstrom then conducted the extended follow up, at the University of California, LA, until 1999, with focusing only on the 35,561 never smokers, who had a spouse, in the study, with known smoking habits.

The large study of Californians, which followed for 40 years, had found that environmental tobacco smoke was not associated with CHD, or lung cancer mortality, at any level of exposure. The study suggested that the effects of environmental tobacco smoke, particularly for CHD, are considerably smaller than generally believed.

Moreover, active cigarette smoking was confirmed as a strong risk factor for CHD, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), most commonly disease caused by tobacco smoke, such as, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. (Enstrom JE, et al. 2003)

Smoker who lived until 95 Years of Age

My great grandfather from my mother side, was born in 1902. He was known as a heavy smoker by his sons, daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He died in 1997 at the age of 95 years, due to aging, and not from any diseases. My living grandmother, who was born in 1931, is the second daughter of my great grandfather.

In December 26, 1950, my grandparent was married. My grandparent who had just celebrated 62nd anniversary last year, are non smokers. After 82 years of living, my grandmother was never having any symptoms of CHD, or lung cancer. Also with my living grandmother elder sister (two years of age older), who took care of my great grandfather since the death of my second great grandmother, in 1987 (my first great grandmother died in 1957), was never having any symptoms of CHD, or lung cancer.

From the first marriage, my great grandfather had six daughters and four sons. My great grandfather did not have any children from the second marriage. Seven out of ten children of my great grandfather, are still living until I write this post. The seventh daughter died at a baby age.

Two sons, the third and forth son, who were also a heavy smoker, died because of lung cancer. I never knew the forth son of my great grandfather, because he died when my mom was still carrying me in pregnancy, in 1980. The third son died in 1998, a year after the death my great grandfather.

Then, you might wonder about me. Do I also a smoker? Yes, I do. Until now, I am the only great grandchildren who is an active smoker, after my elder cousin quitted smoking four years ago. Yes, I know the risk of smoking tobacco, and I want to quit smoking.

I found very hard for me to quit on smoking. Again, you might say, there is a way when there is a will. Perhaps someday, I will stop smoking. I started to smoke since I was graduate from high school, due to a broken heart. What? A broken heart can make people started to smoke? Infact, a broken heart can make people conduct a suicide.

Although, there was a dangdut song lyrics that said, better to have a toothache than a broken heart. But, for me, I prefer to have a broken heart than having a toothache. It's because you can still go to bed and sleep, although you had a broken heart. But, you could never get to sleep if you had a toothache

Obsessive Corbuzier's Diet

Deddy Corbuzier in 2009, before doing OCD

Deodatus Andreas Deddy Cahyadi Sunjoyo, or known as Deddy Corbuzier, an Indonesian mentalist, actor, and host of a TV program Hitam Putih, in Trans7, who received the prestigious Merlin Award from the International Magicians Society, in 2010. Also with Rizuki, the winner of The Master season 3, a magic talent show, in which Corbuzier became one of the judges, also received the Merlin Award, in 2010.

Merlin Award is like the magicians's Oscars. Previous winners include, David Copperfield, Criss Angel, Peter Marvey, Max Maven, and etc. OK, back to topic! In August 2013, Corbuzier wrote an ebook about a healthy diet, which titled Obsessive Corbuzier's Diet (OCD). Instead of calling it as a healthy diet, Corbuzier considered OCD as an ancient sacred way of life.

A Forgotten Ancient Chinese Secret

Corbuzier described that OCD was based on a forgotten ancient Chinese secret. It was a cab driver in Hong Kong, who had opened Corbuzier's point of view on how to be forever young and healthy. Corbuzier realized that his struggle, on losing his weight, using healthy diets, and supplements, along with physical exercises at a gym, was completely wrong.

A 68 years old cab driver, who had spent 39 years of his life, in Chinese Buddhist temple, as a Shaolin monk, had amazed him. The cab driver, whom Corbuzier thought that he aged of 40 years, believed that healthy diets, supplements, and physical activities, will not make you stay young, healthy, and having an ideal body by losing weight.

As a Shaolin monk, the cab driver was used to follow the Vinaya, the rules of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, by doing an evening fast, or not to eat a meal in the evening, so that, he will be aware of good health, being without illness, having strength, and living in comfort.

OCD Means Fasting

Deddy Corbuzier after doing OCD

Corbuzier said that OCD means fasting, by eliminating breakfast in the morning, or at least three hours after wake up. He believed that breakfast means break fasting, and not eating in the morning. In his ebook, Corbuzier said that, Eating at 2 pm will be considered as breakfast, if you just wake up. But, not if you had already woken up since 8 am.

There are four levels of OCD fasting, 16 hours, 18 hours, 20 hours and 24 hours. When doing the OCD fasting, drinking water, tea, or coffee without sugar are allowed, as long as there are no calories intake, or calorie restriction, such as drinking milk. Corbuzier had tried the OCD fasting for three months before he wrote the ebook.

In his first week, Corbuzier skipped the OCD fasting to the second level of 18 hours of fasting, due to the first level was too easy for him. At the six hours of eating time, he started at 3 pm for breakfast, and stopped eating at 9 pm.

At the second week, Corbuzier moved to third level of 20 hours of fasting. Breakfast at 3 pm and started fasting at 7 pm. He once failed of doing the third level of fasting, and back to second level, by starting to fast at 9 pm.

At the third week, Corbuzier managed to combine the third and forth level of OCD fasting. Once in a week, he did a full day fast. For example, start fasting at 4 pm until the 4 pm of the next day.

By the forth week, Corbuzier did the same as the third week, but he did a full day fast, for twice a week.

The Health Benefits of Fasting

OCD is considered to be an intermittent fasting technique, an alternate day fasting, a pattern of eating between periods of fasting, and non fasting. The fasting usually means calorie restriction, and to consume only water, or low calories drinks, such as, black coffee.

A study found that by eating less, and more than needed on alternate days, will prolong life. This is another secret of extending life, just like in my previous post. By restricting calorie intake, up to 70% of normal adult weight maintenance requirement, will confer a perfect health, and prolong lifespan up to 50%.

The study had observed several health benefits starting as two weeks, in insulin resistance, asthma, seasonal allergies, infectious diseases, tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, periodontal disease, rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disorder), osteoarthritis, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat, or abnormal heart rhythm), menopause related hot flashes (a sudden feeling of warmth spreading all over the face and upper body), and symptoms due to CNS (central nervous system) inflammatory lesions, such as, Tourette syndrome (neurological disorder), and Ménière's disease (hearing disorder).

The study also hypothesized that other conditions would be delayed, prevented or improved, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, brain injury due to thrombotic stroke atherosclerosis, NIDDM (non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, form of diabetes, in which insulin production is inadequate, or the body becomes resistant to insulin), and congestive heart failure (condition when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body). Moreover, the study believed that this pattern of eating has proven to be a good method of weight control. (Johnson JB, et al. 2006)

Fasting and Chronic Diseases

Another study reviewed animal and human evidence concerning alternate day fasting, and the risk of certain chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. The following are the review results:

In term of diabetes risk

• Animal Studies find lower diabetes incidence, lower fasting glucose, and insulin concentrations, effects that are comparable to those of calorie restriction.
• Human trials have reported greater insulin mediated glucose uptake, but no effect on fasting glucose, or insulin concentrations.

In term of CVD risk

• Animal studies show lower total cholesterol, lower triacylglycerol concentrations, a lower heart rate, improved cardiac response to myocardial infarction, and lower blood pressure.
• Although there are limited in human evidences, alternate day fasting suggests higher HDL cholesterol concentrations, and lower triacylglycerol concentrations, but no effect on blood pressure.

In term of cancer risk

• Animal studies found decreases in lymphoma incidence, longer survival after tumor inoculation, and lower rates of proliferation of several cell types.
• There is no human evidence.

The findings in animals suggest that alternate day fasting may effectively prevent chronic diseases, in which similar to that of calorie restriction. (Varady KA, et al. 2007) Moreover, other study which published in 2009, by Johnson JB, et al., hypothesized that a pretreatment of two to three weeks with the alternate day modified fast, will improve outcomes in cancer chemotherapy, decreasing morbidity and raising cure rates. (Johnson JB, et al. 2009)

I had done once in my lifetime, a full day fast, in order to open my sixth sense, by my uncle's Guru, in Bantul, Yogyakarta. My fast was started after the sunset, until break fasting with only using a white chicken egg yolk, that I brought from home, and a cup of water, in the next day sunset. I ate an hour later, after we both left the Guru's house.

I also did several fasting when I was young, especially at my weton day (Javanese day) of birth, for three days, the day before until the day after. The fasting was started after the sunset, until break fasting after sunrise, or called as an evening fast.

I had read the ebook, and found that it was very reasonable to try. You can download the ebook for free by visiting here on web archive. The book is written in Bahasa Indonesia, and in English for the reference sources.

All photos are private collections of Deddy Corbuzier.

Disclaimer: This information is not a medical advise, and based on personal experience of Deddy Corbuzier, a non medical practitioners. The OCD fasting technique is not advised for pregnant women, breastfeeding mom, workers at heavy labor, and people who are very sick, where fasting would be considered dangerous. You must consult with your doctor before doing OCD fasting to lose weight, in regarding to your medical records, and for your own safety!