A new chemotherapy drug developed by the University of Minnesota may hold the secret key to fight pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal types of cancers, and once again it is based in a natural active constituent derived from a Chinese herb used in many traditional herbal remedies since centuries ago, Thunder God Vine (Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook).

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook (Thunder God Vine) has been used since centuries ago as part of multiple Chinese traditional herbal remedies, mainly to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, showed to be effective on the treatment of multiple cancer types.  Image: 雷公藤 by 天問 小窩 under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

TRIPTERIGIUM WILFORDII HOOK

Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Tripterygium
Common name: Thunder God Vine, 雷公藤, raikōtō, lei gong teng.

Boswellia serrata has been traditionally used in ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory problems. This has been its main use since this herb was found to be rich in Boswellic acids, an active component found in Boswellia serrata that helps on the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Image: Boswellia sacra by Scott Zona under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

WHAT IS BOSWELLIC ACID?

Boswellic acids are Triterpenes, organic acids found mainly in the resin produced by plants in the genus Boswellia, as Boswellia serrata, and can be up to 30% of the total active constituents found in that resin. They were used in Ayurvedic medicine as part of many other traditional herbal remedies.

BOSWELLIA SERRATA

Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Boswellia
Common name: Indian frankincense, Salai, ru Xiang (Chinese).

Triptolide, an active constituent extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook (Thunder God Vine), a traditional Chinese herb used since centuries ago as part of multiple Chinese traditional herbal remedies, mainly autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, has shown to be effective on the treatment of multiple cancer types. Among some of its beneficial properties we can mention its anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant and anti-tumor characteristics. Chinese name: 雷公藤. Image: 雷公藤 by 天問 小窩 under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

WHAT IS BRUCEA JAVANICA?

Brucea javanica, a shrub original from South-east Asia and northern
Australia and known in Chinese medicinal remedies for its anti-cancer properties, where it is named as ya tan tze, has been subject of hundreds of studies and clinical trials, all of them aimed to understand better two main key issues, first how effective this herb really is and secondly, if it is so effective which active constituent gives these properties to it.

BRUCEA JAVANICA

Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Brucea
Common name: Brucea fruit