HERBS THAT LOWER PSA

There has always been a keen interest in herbs and herbal concoctions which may have benefit in cancer treatment.

From 1997-2002, a product known as PC-Spes was in the marketplace. This product contained a mixture of 8 different herbs and was based on Chinese medicine principles.

PC-Spes was reported to reduce PSA in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer. Hormone refractory prostate cancer has few treatment options and a relatively short life expectancy.

PC-Spes was taken off the market in 2002 due to reported contamination with traces of biologically active substances such as warfarin, indomethacin, and diethylstilbestrol.

A recent study ( 2008) revisited the issue.  PC-Spes2, manufactured by Active Botanicals Ltd. (UK) and using disciplined, quality control procedures verified by independent agents

was tested in a phase 1 study.

Because of previous problems with contamination, the authors reported that PC-Spes 2  demonstrated no contaminations after being subjected to testing  by high pressure liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy.

The PC-Spes 2 compound was investigated in a single-centre, prospective, open pilot study. Eighteen patients with Hormone refractory prostate cancer with a  mean age of 72, a median Gleason score of 8 (range 4-9) and a median PSA of 110 (range 4-2870) with three consecutive monthly increases in PSA were studied.

Of the 18 patients in the study, 10 withdrew during the study period due to significant diarrhoea. During the course of the study, the dosing schedule was adjusted and the number of patients dropping out decreased.

The authors reported that after one month, 7 out of 10 patients had a drop in their PSA doubling time or PSA velocity, which was still apparent in 4 out of 5 patients still on trial at three months and all three patients still on trial at six months. No serious adverse events or derangement of coagulation were observed.

The authors concluded that PC-Spes2 offers renewed hope and a safe alternative treatment option for patients with advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer. The authors further concluded that further investigation with phase II trials would be warranted.

To research another herb which is proposed to be useful in prostatic conditions go to

Crinum Latifolium.