Chloroform Extract of Rasagenthi Mezhugu, a Siddha Formulation, as an Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine for HPV-Positive Cervical Cancers.

Anvarbatcha Riyasdeen,Preethy Paul,Ali A Alshatwi,Mohammad A Akbarsha,Vaiyapuri S Periasamy

doi:10.1155/2012/136527

Abstract

Rasagenthi Mezhugu (RGM) is a herbomineral formulation in the Siddha system of traditional medicine and is prescribed in the southern parts of India as a remedy for all kinds of cancers. However, scientific evidence for its therapeutic efficacy in cervical cancer is lacking, and it contains heavy metals. To overcome these limitations, RGM was extracted, and the fractions were tested on HPV-positive cervical cancer cells, ME-180 and SiHa. The extracts, free from the toxic heavy metals, affected the viability of both the cells. The chloroform fraction (cRGM) induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis was indicated. Though both the cells responded to the treatment, ME-180 was more responsive. Thus, this study brings up scientific evidence for the efficacy of RGM against the HPV-mediated cervical cancer cells and, if the toxic heavy metals are the limitation in its use, cRGM would be a suitable candidate as evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine for HPV-positive cervical cancers.

Highlights

Cancer is one of the major public health problems worldwide and accounts for an estimated 2.5 million cases in India alone [1]
We carried out this study to test the most efficacious extract of Rasagenthi Mezhugu (RGM), the chloroform extract, which is free from heavy metals [7, 9], on human papilloma virus (HPV)-mediated cervical cancer cell lines, ME-180 and SiHa
Of the two cell types subjected to the test, ME-180 was more responsive than SiHa

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is one of the major public health problems worldwide and accounts for an estimated 2.5 million cases in India alone [1]. One of the avenues is phytotherapy, which is a recognized complementary and alternative (CAM) therapeutic modality [2]. Many cancer patients, who are already crippled with this disease, and further burdened by drug-induced toxic side effects, turn to complementary and alternative medicines hoping for a better cure or at least palliation [3]. More than 60% of the approved drugs are derived from nature, and most of these discoveries were led from traditional herbal medicines [4]. The principle underlying the use of more than one plant/plant product in these formulations is that they may produce synergistic and/or additive effects, or one may neutralize the toxic effect of another, which is otherwise therapeutic in the given context [6]

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