Co-Authors:
Ben-Arye, E., Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel, Lin Medical Center, Affiliated with the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Affiliated with the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, The Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, 35 Rothschild St., Haifa, Israel
Mahajna, J., Cancer Drug Discovery Program, Galilee Technology Center, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
Aly, R., Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, ARO, Newe-Yaar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Ali-Shtayeh, M.S., Biodiversity and Biotechnology Research Unit, Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center, BERC, Til, Nablus, Palestine
Bentur, Y., Israel Poison Information Center, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Lev, E., Department of Eretz Israel Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Deng, G., Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
Samuels, N., Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel, Lin Medical Center, Affiliated with the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Tal Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
Abstract:
Context and objectives: The unmonitored use of herbal medicinal remedies by patients with cancer presents a significant challenge to oncology healthcare professionals. We describe an increasingly popular herbal “wonder drug,” Ephedra foeminea (Alanda in Arabic), whose use has spread from the Palestinian patient population throughout the Middle East. We conducted a multicentered and multidisciplinary collaborative research effort in order to understand the potential benefits and harms of this popular herbal remedy. Methods: We conducted an in-depth search of the medical literature, both traditional and modern, for any mention of the clinical use of Alanda for the treatment of cancer. We then tested the remedy, first for toxic ephedra alkaloid components and then for anticancer effects, as well as effects on the cytotoxic activity of chemotherapy agents (cisplatin and carboplatin) on breast cancer cell cultures. Results: We found no mention in the literature, both conventional and traditional, on the use of Alanda for the treatment of cancer. Laboratory testing did not find any toxic components (i.e., ephedra alkaloids) in the preparation. However, in vitro exposure to Alanda led to a reduced cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy on breast cancer cell cultures. Conclusions: The use of an integrative ethnobotanical, laboratory and clinical research-based approach can be extremely helpful when providing nonjudgmental and evidence-based guidance to patients with cancer, especially on the use of traditional herbal medicine. The effectiveness and safety of these products need to be examined by integrative physicians who are dually trained in both complementary medicine and supportive cancer care. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
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