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A friend of mine brought me a magazine called ' Life Extension" (Feb. 2007 issue) yesterday. On the front cover was a headline called " Prostate Cancer Breakthrough". On page 33 there is an article that describes the research done on an enzyme that promotes prostate cancer. Also mentioned is an extract from the plant boswellia called AKBA that inhibits the enzyme and therefore the growth of prostate cancer. I don't consider this organization to be "fly by night" because I started reading about their work in the early 1980's. I respect their work relative to the immune system and treatment and cures for many of our human ailments. In any case I ordered some of the 5-Loxin and will determine if it suppresses my prostate cancer growth.
The Life Extension Foundation
is not universally admired and most people regard it as a commercial site, with many people believing that it exploits people who believe that it is the poster boy for natural products whilst others, more cynical perhaps, believe that is not the case.
I see from the write-up on AKBA (Boswellia) that no claims are made for cure or control of prostate cancer. The closest they get is to say: “Through its action …., boswellia demonstrates effects that may help combat cancer, atherosclerosis, and asthma.” There are no studies to show how these effects manifest themselves in possibly helping combat cancer.
When I see any suggestion such as this I usually see what corroborating information I can find. In this case I found a good site at Sloan-Kettering which shows the Purported Uses as:
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Colitis
• Inflammation
• Menstrual cramps
Not a word about cancer, let alone Prostate Cancer. In Roman-Dutch law, and in the laws of many countries there is an axiom - Caveat Emptor - Let The Buyer Beware. This applies especially to any of these kinds of ‘silver bullets’ –see ARIZONA HERPETOLOGICAL PROCESSORS LLC
On page 37 of the referenced article I quote.
" From the syandpoint of keeping prostate cancer cells in check, 5-LOXIN was shown to prevent TNF-alpha-induced expression of a protein -degrading enzyme called matrix metalloproteinuse (MMP). Cancer cells use the MMP enzyme to tear apart natural barriers in the body that would normally encase them. Prostate cancer cells are notorious for inducing the production of this enzyme that causes containment structures within the prostate gland to vanish, thus enabling the mutated ( cancerous) prostate cells to break through healthy prostate tissue and eventually metastasize."
As a side note from me, I believe that every person who is interested in this compound should read the entire article and decide for themselves as to the validity of what is written.
