Kava Fact of the Day FKB's role in fighting breast cancer.

[The Kap'n]

Among all cancers diagnosed, breast cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths. Around one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives [1]. Many research studies have been performed on various natural bioactive substances to fight breast cancer, and they’re showing good promise in treatment. These anti-cancer agents were sought to cease the growth of tumors and also increase the sensitivity of the immune system towards intruders [2]. Metastasis, or the spreading of cancers to different sites in the body is the number one reason cancer can be fatal [3]. This study looks into the ability of FKB to inhibit this among other beneficial effects. FKB, being present in all types of kava in differing concentrations, can be extracted from the kava plant. FKB can also be synthesized in the lab. FKB for this study was synthesized in the lab. This study used BALB/c mice. These mice are specifically bred due to their susceptibility of developing types of plasma cell tumors. These mice were inoculated with 4TI (breast cancer) cells. The mice were separated into two groups. One was fed with 50mg/kg per day of FKB, while the others were fed olive oil. This feeding went on for 28 days of treatment. The study found that FKB inhibited proliferation, induced cell death, slows or stops the movement and invasion of cancer into healthy cells, physically inhibits the growth of tumors, and regulates the immune system. It was also found FKB reduced the number of actively dividing tumor cells when compared to the control tumor. Overall, and according to this study’s results, it can be suggested that FKB obstructed the progression of breast cancer tumors by inducing apoptosis or “cell death” in the tumor. This study paints FKB as a bright prospect of becoming an anticancer agent [4].



[1] Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013 Jan;63(1):11-30. doi: 10.3322/caac.21166. Epub 2013 Jan 17. PMID: 23335087.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23335087/)



[2] Grivennikov SI, Greten FR, Karin M. Immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Cell. 2010 Mar 19;140(6):883-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.025. PMID: 20303878; PMCID: PMC2866629.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20303878/)



[3] van Zijl F, Krupitza G, Mikulits W. Initial steps of metastasis: cell invasion and endothelial transmigration. Mutat Res. 2011 Jul-Oct;728(1-2):23-34. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2011.05.002. Epub 2011 May 12. PMID: 21605699; PMCID: PMC4028085.



[4] Abu N, Mohamed NE, Yeap SK, Lim KL, Akhtar MN, Zulfadli AJ, Kee BB, Abdullah MP, Omar AR, Alitheen NB. In vivo antitumor and antimetastatic effects of flavokawain B in 4T1 breast cancer cell-challenged mice. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015 Mar 6;9:1401-17. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S67976. PMID: 25834398; PMCID: PMC4358690.
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25834398/)

 

[Alia]

Also worth noting that results of another study show--"Results: Traditional preparations of kava inhibit the growth of breast and colon cancer cells "
In this study the kava was prepared using the Micronesian method.

L.S. Einbonda,b,d,∗ , A. Negrinb,c , D.M. Kulakowski b,c,1 , H.-A. Wud,1 , V. Antonetti b , F. Jalees b , W. Lawa , M. Roller e , S. Redenti b,c , E.J. Kennelly b,c , M.J. Balicka,c a The Institute of Economic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458, USA b Lehman College, The City University of New York, Bronx, NY 10468, USA c The CUNY Graduate Center, Biology, Biochemistry and Chemistry Ph.D. Programs, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA d Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA e Naturex, Avignon, BP 81218 - 84911
Traditional preparations of kava (Piper methysticum) inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells in vitro L.S. Einbonda,b,d,∗ , A. Negrinb,c , D.M. Kulakowski b,c,1 , H.-A. Wud,1 , V. Antonetti b , F. Jalees b , W. Lawa , M. Roller e , S. Redenti b,c , E.J. Kennelly b,c , M.J. Balicka,c a The Institute of Economic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458, USA b Lehman College, The City University of New York, Bronx, NY 10468, USA c The CUNY Graduate Center, Biology, Biochemistry and Chemistry Ph.D. Programs, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA d Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA e Naturex, Avignon, BP 81218 - 84911