A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot trial in healthy men to study the effects of Angelica gigas herbal supplement on prostate cancer–relevant inflammatory cytokines.

Abstract

170 Background: The ethanol extract of the root of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) dose-dependently inhibits animal models of prostate cancer. Multi-omic analyses have implicated immune and anti-inflammatory responses in the anti-cancer action. In our single dose-PK study (NCT02114957) in healthy volunteers with AGN dietary supplement CognI.Q, we observed a near doubling of the natural killer (NK) mRNA signature in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at 24 h after dosing while the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 mRNA was decreased by one half over the pre-dose baseline. Given NK incapacitation and inflammation have been linked to prostate cancer, the current trial (NCT03630328) was designed to assess safety and to delineate CognI.Q-specific immune and anti-inflammation functions. Methods: We used a double-blinded, placebo-controlled and crossover trial design to monitor hepatic and renal safety metrics based on Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) and compare the immune cell and cytokine responses to CognI.Q and placebo. Supplement period of 3 weeks was followed with a 2-week washout period. We employed the Ella microfluidic multiplex immunoassay to evaluate select plasma cytokines. Results: Fourteen healthy men completed the trial protocol. Physical examination on study visit days did not reveal any adverse events. Blood CMP monitoring detected abnormal hepatic integrity values in three subjects, all in the second washout period and were attributed to use of anti-allergy medication, an herbal tea for tooth ache, and excessive alcohol, respectively. Analysis of plasma cytokines detected corresponding elevation of MIG, CCL4, CXCL10 and IL-8 with these hepatic damage events. With the exclusion of these subjects or time point, the plasma cytokine measurement did not reveal a significant response to CognI.Q supplement vs. placebo. Conclusions: CognI.Q supplement at the current recommended dose (400 mg, twice per day) did not impair hepatic integrity or renal function, nor did it modulate select plasma cytokines in healthy men. Phase I dose-escalation trials should be implemented to establish safety profile and assess immune and inflammation modulatory effects of AGN supplement beyond the current dose. Clinical trial information: NCT03630328 .