United Press International
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Mar 17, 2004 (United Press International via
COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers said Wednesday they have found a shrub that
causes a rash like poison ivy, but also seems to fight cancer.
The croton plant of Southeast Asia, long known to oriental herbalists
and homeopaths as a purgative, contains a compound that shows promise
for the treatment of prostate cancer -- the second leading cause of
cancer death in men in the United States -- as well as leukemia. The
compound generally is known as TPA.
The researchers from Rutgers University found TPA stops the growth of
new prostate cancer cells, kills existing cancer cells and shrinks
prostate tumors.
In addition, the researchers said, extremely low concentrations of TPA
are potent in fighting myeloid leukemia cells, causing them to revert to
normal cell behavior. When TPA was administered to terminally ill
myeloid leukemia patients in China, the number of leukemia cells in the
blood and bone marrow decreased and there were remissions of the
disease.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.

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