Flavokavain B and its ability to prevent cancer angiogenesis.
Today’s fact of the day once again deals with chemicals known as Flavokavains in the kava plant. Flavokavain B (FKB) has been a hotly debated point of discussion. On one hand we have in vitro studies showing hepatotoxicity when liver cells are in the presence of a FKB solution due to oxidative stress [1]. On the other hand, we have study after study highlighting FKs ability to fight cancers in vitro and in vivo with minimal toxicity levels. We’ll be highlighting one of these studies today. In this 2017 article, researchers sought to uncover FKBs ability to inhibit angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed. This process is critically important in the cycle of tumor growth and metastasis as they must form new blood vessels to support themselves and move to other areas and systems in the human body. This study found FKB inhibited the formation of these blood vessels in a dose-dependent manner. The study also found FKB application prevented wound healing which also added evidence to its ability to prevent the formation of new vessels. Figure 1 shows human brain endothelial cells when treated with FKB. Dosages of FKB were seen to be non-toxic up to the 5ng/ml amount. Toxicity was observed over the 5ng/ml in zebra fish which were the in vivo target for this study. This research gives rise to the possibility of using FKB in low dosages as a direct anti-cancer treatment or a supplemental treatment in conjunction with other medications in the future.
Zhou, P., Gross, S., Liu, J. H., Yu, B. Y., Feng, L. L., Nolta, J., Sharma, V., Piwnica-Worms, D., & Qiu, S. X. (2010). Flavokawain B, the hepatotoxic constituent from kava root, induces GSH-sensitive oxidative stress through modulation of IKK/NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. FASEB Journal, 24(12), 4722-4732. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.10-163311
Rossette MC, Moraes DC, Sacramento EK, Romano-Silva MA, Carvalho JL, Gomes DA, Caldas H, Friedman E, Bastos-Rodrigues L, De Marco L. The In Vitro and In Vivo Antiangiogenic Effects of Flavokawain B. Phytother Res. 2017 Oct;31(10):1607-1613. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5891. Epub 2017 Aug 17. PMID: 28816367.
Today’s fact of the day once again deals with chemicals known as Flavokavains in the kava plant. Flavokavain B (FKB) has been a hotly debated point of discussion. On one hand we have in vitro studies showing hepatotoxicity when liver cells are in the presence of a FKB solution due to oxidative stress [1]. On the other hand, we have study after study highlighting FKs ability to fight cancers in vitro and in vivo with minimal toxicity levels. We’ll be highlighting one of these studies today. In this 2017 article, researchers sought to uncover FKBs ability to inhibit angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed. This process is critically important in the cycle of tumor growth and metastasis as they must form new blood vessels to support themselves and move to other areas and systems in the human body. This study found FKB inhibited the formation of these blood vessels in a dose-dependent manner. The study also found FKB application prevented wound healing which also added evidence to its ability to prevent the formation of new vessels. Figure 1 shows human brain endothelial cells when treated with FKB. Dosages of FKB were seen to be non-toxic up to the 5ng/ml amount. Toxicity was observed over the 5ng/ml in zebra fish which were the in vivo target for this study. This research gives rise to the possibility of using FKB in low dosages as a direct anti-cancer treatment or a supplemental treatment in conjunction with other medications in the future.
Zhou, P., Gross, S., Liu, J. H., Yu, B. Y., Feng, L. L., Nolta, J., Sharma, V., Piwnica-Worms, D., & Qiu, S. X. (2010). Flavokawain B, the hepatotoxic constituent from kava root, induces GSH-sensitive oxidative stress through modulation of IKK/NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. FASEB Journal, 24(12), 4722-4732. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.10-163311
Rossette MC, Moraes DC, Sacramento EK, Romano-Silva MA, Carvalho JL, Gomes DA, Caldas H, Friedman E, Bastos-Rodrigues L, De Marco L. The In Vitro and In Vivo Antiangiogenic Effects of Flavokawain B. Phytother Res. 2017 Oct;31(10):1607-1613. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5891. Epub 2017 Aug 17. PMID: 28816367.