Common Seaweed May Provide an Important Cancer Cure

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by: Tony Isaacs
Tags: seaweed, cancer cure, health news

(NewsTarget) The answer for lymphomas and other forms of cancer may have been found in an extract of common brown seaweed according to research presented this month at the AACR Dead Sea International Conference on Advances in Cancer Research. At the conference, which was held on March 7-10 at King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center, Dead Sea, Jordan, researchers from the Hashemite University in Jordan reported that brown seaweed contains the compound fucoidan which kills cancer tumors.

The researchers used an extract of the seaweed on lymphoma cell lines cultivated in the laboratory and found that the extract suppressed lymphoma growth while leaving healthy cells intact. The researchers also noted a significant increase in apoptosis, or cellular death, in lymphoma cancer cells.

Lymphoma is divided into two classes, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's, which are in turn further classified into B-cell and T-cell groups.

"Some forms of B-cell lymphoma are especially resistant to standard treatment and thus new therapies are needed," said Mohammad Irhimeh, Ph.D., assistant professor of hematoncology and stem cells at the Hashemite University in Jordan. "In this study, we looked at a new treatment strategy using novel active compounds derived from a natural source -- seaweed."

Irhimeh said that research would continue to study the mechanism of fucoidan with the goal of conducting phase II or III clinical trials with human volunteers.

Previously, seaweeds containing fucoidan have been found to have anti-tumor activity in mice and some cell lines, and Japanese researchers at the Biomedical Research Laboratories and the Research Institute for Glycotechnology Advancement found that seaweeds containing Fucoidan caused various types of established cancer cell lines to self-destruct. Examples of cancer cells that self-destructed due to fucoidan included certain kinds of leukemia cells, stomach cancer cells, and cancer cells of the descending colon.

About 4 percent of the total dry weight of many types of brown seaweed is made up of the polysaccharide known as Fucoidan. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide that has a complex structure. Its main components include a sulfuric esterified L-fucose, a healing sugar, and the trace elements of galactose, xylose, and glucuronic acid.

Fucoidan has been touted as one of the ocean's greatest treasures. Among the many benefits reported for fucoidan in addition to being an anti-tumor agent are: helps modulate the immune system, supports normal cellular health, supports blood circulation to native body cells, acts as an anti-contraceptive, helps reduce cholesterol levels and supports healthy joint mobility at all ages. In addition, it is believed that fucoidan may help stimulate immune response when the body is attacked and may help regenerate healthy skin tissue.

The people of Okinawa, Japan enjoy some of the highest life expectancies in Japan and also consume one of the highest per capita amount of the seaweed kombu. The cancer death rate in Okinawa is the lowest of all the prefectures in Japan.

Fucoidan's anti-cancer properties may also be good news for dogs and cats. Lymphoma is one of the most prevalent cancers in dogs and cats and, as noted above, lymphoma is one of the types of cancer which fucoidan has been found to be the most effective.

Sources included:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03...
http://www.wddty.com/seaweed-could-be-the-ne...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Fucoidan---Is-Ther...

About the author

Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for those who wish to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year. He is also a contributing author for the worldwide advocacy group "S.A N.E.Vax. Inc" which endeavors to uncover the truth about HPV vaccine dangers.
Mr. Isaacs is currently residing in scenic East Texas and frequently commutes to the even more scenic Texas hill country near Austin and San Antonio to give lectures and health seminars. He also hosts the CureZone "Ask Tony Isaacs - featuring Luella May" forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group "Oleander Soup" and he serves as a consultant to the "Utopia Silver Supplement Company".