Milk thistle extract helps cure lung cancer in mice

Researchers at the University of Colorado cancer center have recently conducted studies on a new relatively nontoxic substance; silibinin. Silibinin, a substance in milk thistle, has been found to inhibit the STAT1 and STAT3 upstream signal that leads to the expression of COX2 and iNOS, along with helping to decrease the spread of lung cancer. Both this findings have been researched and tested with in laboratory mice. The expression of COX2 and iNOS both increase production of tumor growth. The article concluded by quoting Alpna Tyagi “what was discovered is that STAT1 and STAT3 may be promising therapeutic targets in the treatment of lung cancer, no matter how you target them” and treatments that occur naturally, like silibinin, can aid in curing common illnesses.

Milk Thistle potential stop to Lung Cancer

An article from ScienceDaily reported the findings of study oringally posted in Molecular Carcinogenesis. The findings of this report could be a new development in ways to fight cancer. While the remedy of Milk Thistle extract has been used for thousands of years to treat minor illnesses, the scientists at the University of Colorado conducted their study to put some factual truth behind the plants medicinal properties.

The testing was conducted on mice which had lung cancer. This type of cancer grows primarly from the enzymes that are released when the body detects that it has wounded tissue. So the larger the tumor gets the more of these enzymes are released and the more it grows. The milk thistle extract the scientists were working with is called silibinin. This compound interupts the chain of enzymes that leads to the production of the growth encouraging enzymes. This prevents those enzymes from forming and slows the spread of the tumor. Unfortunately silibinin is not a cure for cancer but it does give hope for the future.

This study is another crucial step in the fight against cancer, and while it may only apply to mice, its still provides that alternative to the million dollar treatments and can give hope to those who can't afford such things.