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Licorice Root

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Posted 3/2/2017 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
There was a study done showing Licorice root showed a 50% decline in PSA levels.

http://www.naturalnews.com/022189_herb_tonic_licorice.html
Posted 3/2/2017 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
As I read, these studies were using the supplement with a regimen of chemotherapy (docetaxel) for advanced stage PCa. They contend that there was more PSA drop than without. That is an extremely narrow application of licorice root in PCa treatment. I think your sentence is far too general and misleading.

While that result may be positive and assist in treating PCa, we need to be very careful not to read anything in to this in any other situation. Certainly we should not conclude that licorice will prevent PCa, or reduce the risk or improve treatment effectiveness in general.
Posted 3/2/2017 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had not heard of this one, seems to be some interest at one time but most is kind of old.
http://www.naturalhealth365.com/licorice-breast-cancer-2024.html
http://urwebsrv.rutgers.edu/focus/article/print/Research%20in%20brief/1239
Posted 3/3/2017 2:54 AM (GMT 0)

The bogus website that eat2bwell linked said...
The National Cancer Institute did a clinical trial using Licorice Root in combination with Docetacel for Hormone-Refractory Metastic Prostate Cancer that did not respond to hormone therapy. The primary outcome was PSA normalization or a 50% decline. As an herbalist I would think that it was the licorice root alone that brought the PSA levels down to normal.

A quick check confirmed that there has never been such an NCI clinical trial. And anyone who believes that a man with mCRPC who takes licorice with docetaxel, and it was the licorice that brought his PSA down... well, there's some snake oil I would sell him that cures everything. Talk about fake news!

Sad that people prey on people with cancer.
Posted 3/3/2017 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Not completely fake, but interest faded out, there must be a reason.
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In the present study, we assessed licorice root extract for effects on Bcl-2 to identify novel cytotoxic derivatives. Licorice root extract induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation as demonstrated by immunoblot and G2/M cell cycle arrest, similarly to clinically used antimicrotubule agents such as pa***axel. Bioassay-directed fractionations resulted in a biologically active fraction for Bcl-2 phosphorylation. HPLC separation followed by mass spectrometry and NMR identified 6 compounds. Only one molecule was responsible for Bcl-2 phosphorylation; it was identified as 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl) 1-propanone (beta-hydroxy-DHP). The effect on Bcl-2 was structure specific, because alpha-hydroxy-DHP, 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl) 1-propanone, in contrast to beta-hydroxy-DHP, was not capable of Bcl-2 phosphorylation. Pure beta-hydroxy-DHP induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation in breast and prostate tumor cells, G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis demonstrated by Annexin V and TUNEL assay, decreased cell viability demonstrated by a tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and altered microtubule structure. Therefore, these data demonstrate that licorice root contains beta-hydroxy-DHP, which induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation, apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest, in breast and prostate tumor cells, similarly to the action of more complex (MW >800) antimicrotubule agents used clinically.
Posted 3/3/2017 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
This study from 2008 actually suggest that glycyrrhizin has therapeutic potential against prostate cancer.
Glycyrrhizin induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines DU-145 and LNCaP
Don't Try This at Home, a high intake of glycyrrhizin can damage your health, especially if you have high blood pressure.
Posted 3/3/2017 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
I do like those licorice allsorts, will tell the wife to get me some more medicine when she goes to grocery. ;-)
Posted 3/3/2017 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful out there tongue
Paralysed by his favourite SWEETS: Grandfather who ate too many liquorice allsorts develops rare nerve condition which left him unable to move
Posted 3/4/2017 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
As I've posted elsewhere, my DH went several weeks with no tx due to low platelets, and he gained 23 pounds, from a low of 108, and his PSA continued to drop significantly. The constant in his diet was tapioca and hot cocoa with added chocolate Boost supplement. "As a maker of tapioca, I would think that it was the tapioca alone (with a cocoa chaser) that dropped those PSA levels to nowhere near normal."
Beth
Posted 3/5/2017 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
tapioca? was that humor.
Posted 3/6/2017 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
The only way to find out if something works is to try it. I was first introduced to licorice root due to a hernia I have. It was one of the herbs suggested and I gave it a try. When I saw it had positive results for PSA levels thought I would post it here. If you decide to try it make sure you are comfortable with the side effects you may experience. I gained a little weight and my blood pressure went up a little. It is not suggested for long term use. If you are happy with your health ignore this post but if you want something to try this may be what you need. Remember if you keep doing what you always did you will get what you always got. If you want things to change you have to do something different.
Posted 3/6/2017 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I disagree that the only way to find out if something works is to try it - apart, even, from the potential to harm oneself. The way we know a medicine works for a population is by randomized clinical trials that establish a biomarker for it. But it is sometimes difficult if not impossible to know if something works for the individual. Take Provenge, for example. We know it works because it adds several months to median survival. However, the typical biomarker, PSA, does not work for it. Instead they look at immune markers, and patients can only assume it is helping. Another good example was pomegranate juice a few years ago. In uncontrolled trials there was a slowing of PSADT, but once controls were added, they found there was no effect. So how could anyone know if pomegranate juice has any effect for him? Often, it comes down to a question of belief, which is why the placebo effect is so powerful.

eat2bwell said...
When I saw it had positive results for PSA levels thought I would post it here.

And yet, as you now see, that was a completely fake statement on a bogus web site. One has to be very careful about info one gets from the Internet. Sources matter a lot!
Posted 3/6/2017 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
I used to enjoy a cup of licorice tea until I googled the side effects.
Posted 3/6/2017 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Eat2bwell, I see that you post on multiple HW forums and have been warned by other moderators about making dubious health claims. If you have something legitimate to share with us or if we can help you with any issues related to prostate cancer you are welcome here. Otherwise, please move on.

I think Allen has the definitive take on this so I'll simply lock the thread and we can move on.

Jim
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