Today’s fact is short but pertinent. The quote below goes into pretty explicit detail, but the important part to take away is the interaction between FK-A and bladder cancer. In this study it was shown, among other things, that Flavokavain A inhibited the occurrence of cancer cells in the bladder. The study doesn’t go into detail regarding how much FK-A would be needed to achieve this effect, however it does open the door to other exciting cancer research possibilities.
“Using a transgenic mouse model that resembles human urothelial cell carcinoma (bladder cancer) with defects in the p53 and the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein pathways, a study demonstrated that flavokavain A induced apoptosis (“cell death”) via activation of the pro‐apoptotic pathway (p27 and DR5) and inhibited the expression of anti‐apoptotic proteins, x-linked inhibitor of apoptotic proteins (XIAP), Bcl2, and survivin. Consequently, flavokavain A inhibited the occurrence of high‐grade papillary urothelial cell cancer in mice. Moreover, flavokavain A significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential resulting in the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and activated apoptosis in an invasive bladder cancer cell line T24. In addition, the pro‐apoptotic effects of flavokavain A were also mediated by a decrease in anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐x(L), and an increase in the active form of pro‐apoptotic protein Bax.”
Fu, D. (n.d.). Use of Kava as a Phytotherapeutic Agent and Kava-Related Hepatotoxicity. In 1151098983 865446419 I. Ramzan (Ed.), Phytotherapies (Hepatotoxicity, pp. 312-329). doi:10.1002/9781119006039.ch13
“Using a transgenic mouse model that resembles human urothelial cell carcinoma (bladder cancer) with defects in the p53 and the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein pathways, a study demonstrated that flavokavain A induced apoptosis (“cell death”) via activation of the pro‐apoptotic pathway (p27 and DR5) and inhibited the expression of anti‐apoptotic proteins, x-linked inhibitor of apoptotic proteins (XIAP), Bcl2, and survivin. Consequently, flavokavain A inhibited the occurrence of high‐grade papillary urothelial cell cancer in mice. Moreover, flavokavain A significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential resulting in the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and activated apoptosis in an invasive bladder cancer cell line T24. In addition, the pro‐apoptotic effects of flavokavain A were also mediated by a decrease in anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐x(L), and an increase in the active form of pro‐apoptotic protein Bax.”
Fu, D. (n.d.). Use of Kava as a Phytotherapeutic Agent and Kava-Related Hepatotoxicity. In 1151098983 865446419 I. Ramzan (Ed.), Phytotherapies (Hepatotoxicity, pp. 312-329). doi:10.1002/9781119006039.ch13