An in vivo analysis of the herbal compound essiac.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Essiac is a herbal compound that has been in common use with cancer patients in North America for over 80 years. Despite its relatively widespread use, there are no peer-reviewed published reports of in vivo studies regarding the use of this compound.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Essiac was administered orally to test animals prior to all experiments. Standard assays to test protection from ethanol-induced gastric ulceration and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury were performed on Wistar rats. Assays of postglucose-load serum glucose and cellular and humoral immune modulation were conducted on ICR and BALB/C mice, respectively.

RESULTS:

Essiac demonstrated a modest gastric protective effect via reduction of ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. However, Essiac did not demonstrate significant hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic or immunomodulatory properties.

CONCLUSION:

Essiac, administered in established in vivo experimental models, did not significantly demonstrate its purported physiological modifying effects.

• Authors: Blair J N Leonard, Deborah A Kennedy, Fong-Chi Cheng, Keng-Kuang Chang, Dugald Seely, Edward Mills
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) 2006 Jul-Aug Vol. 26 Issue 4B Pg. 3057-63 ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 16886634 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Essiac
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (drug effects)
• Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning (prevention & control)
• Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
• Liver Diseases (prevention & control)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Stomach Ulcer (chemically induced, prevention & control)