Kansas University
Below you will find Dr. Mirko Beljanski’s 133 Research Publications
New Research on Anti-Cancer Effects of Golden Ginkgo Leaf Extract
This publication shows that the Golden Ginkgo Leaf Extract (GGLE) fights cancer progression by inhibiting two major survival strategies of cancer cells: blocking the recruitment of blood vessels that feed tumor growth; and curtailing the invasion of tissues that enables metastasis. This study, focusing on melanoma, was conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Dr. Qi Chen’s laboratory, a longtime collaborator of the Beljanski Foundation.
Cancers use more than one tactic to promote their advance. Not only do they divide rapidly, they send out a signal, called angiogenin, that stimulates new blood supply for tumors and strengthens their capacity to spread by penetrating neighboring tissues. GGLE specifically inhibits the release of this pro-cancer signal, thereby suppressing tumor growth and metastasis.
Combinations of GGLE for its anti-vascular and anti-metastatic activity with the Pao pereira and Rauwolfia vomitoria extracts for direct killing of cancer cells provide a formidable, non-toxic, triple action approach to the fight against cancer.
Read more:
Chen P, Wang T, Chen Q. Ginkgo biloba Golden Leaf Extract (GGLE) Inhibits Melanoma Cell Invasion and Angiogenesis Through Inhibition of Angiogenin. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2023;22. doi:10.1177/15347354221134513
Pancreatic cancers are enriched with cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which are resistant to chemotherapies, and responsible for tumor metastasis and recurrence. We investigated the extract of a medicinal plant Pao pereira for its activity against pancreatic CSCs. Pao inhibited overall proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and had limited cytotoxicity to normal epithelial cells. In several assays pancreatic CSC population was significantly reduced. In vivo, the Pao extract significantly reduced tumorigenicity of PANC-1 cells. Further investigation is warranted in using Pao as a novel treatment targeting pancreatic CSCs.
The poor treatment outcomes of pancreatic cancer are linked to an enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in these tumors, which are resistant to chemotherapy and promote metastasis and tumor recurrence. In these experiments, the pancreatic CSC population, identified using cell surface markers or a tumor spheroid formation assay, was significantly reduced by the Rauwolfia vomitoria extract. In vivo the Rauwolfia extract significantly reduced the tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, these data showed that Rauwolfia preferentially inhibited pancreatic cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells are a type of stem cell specific to cancer, that is able to reproduce through self-renewal and regeneration into new tumor cells. Cancer stem cells are thought to survive chemotherapy treatments and provide the basis for tumor regrowth. It is critical to find treatments for cancer stem cells to prevent this disease from resurfacing in a person again and again. Research conducted at Kansas University Medical Center concluded that both the Pao pereira (Pau pereira) and Rauwolfia vomitoria extracts inhibited the proliferation of multiple human ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro.
Research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center on the effect of the plant extracts on ovarian cancer concludes that “In vivo, Pao pereira (Pau pereira) alone suppressed tumor growth by 79% and decreased volume of ascites by 55%. When Pao pereira (Pau pereira) was combined with carboplatin, tumor inhibition reached 97% and ascites was completely eradicated.” Pao pereira (Pau pereira) possesses potent antitumor activity and works in synergy with chemotherapy.
Research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center concluded that Rauwolfia vomitoria was effective against ovarian cancer cells both alone and in combination with carboplatin. The combination decreased tumor size in animal experiments by 87 to 90%. The authors conclude that, “Rauwolfia vomitoria has potent antitumor activity and in combination significantly enhances the effect of carboplatin against ovarian cancer.”
Different tea products could affect the growth of cancer cells. Four popular tea products were evaluated, including 3 green teas and a black tea, namely Bigelow Green Tea with Mint, Kusmi Chinese Green Tea, OnkoTea Green Tea Blend, and Lipton Black Tea. Panels of breast cancer cells, melanoma cells, liver cancer cells, and bladder cancer cells were tested. The results showed that the effects of tea on cell proliferation was concentration dependent. At a higher concentration range, all 4 tea products inhibited the cancer cells, with OnkoTea showing the best inhibitory effect.
A DNA based assay for screening compounds for anti-cancer potential identified four green teas with impressive anti-cancer effect. An extract was prepared from a combination of all four of the teas and this extract was tested for anti-cancer activity in cell based assays in Dr. Qi Chen’s laboratory at the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center. When tested against extracts of other well-known teas, the four green tea blend had the most potent anti-cancer effect. This research was accepted for presentation at the 16th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology and published in EC Nutrition.
In preclinical pancreatic cancer models, Rauwolfia vomitoria extract induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of Rauwolfia extract and gemcitabine had a synergistic effect in inhibiting cell growth. Pancreatic tumor growth was significantly suppressed by Rauwolfia treatment and metastasis was inhibited as well. Adding Rauwolfia extract to gemcitabine treatment further reduced tumor burden and metastatic potential in the gemcitabine resistant tumors. These data suggest that Rau possesses anti–pancreatic cancer activity and could improve the effect of gemcitabine.
Pao pereira extract induced dose-dependent apoptosis in all tested pancreatic cancer cell lines. The combination of Pao extract and Gemcitabine had a synergistic effect in the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Mice with pancreatic tumors were treated with Pao extract and Gemcitabine, either alone or in combination. While Gemcitabine did not provide significant inhibition, Pao treatment significantly suppressed tumor growth by 70-72%, and by 78% when combined with Gemcitabine.
