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Rasagenthi lehyam (RL) a novel complementary and alternative medicine for prostate cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer has been increasing. The therapeutic modalities which originated from India, viz., Ayurveda and Siddha, have phytotherapy as their fundamental basis and, therefore, produce few side effects. They are among the most ancient medicinal systems and are still being practiced in India and elsewhere, to cure cancer and other diseases. Many Siddha practitioners in the southern parts of India prescribe rasagenthi lehyam (RL) as a drug for cancer. RL contains 38 different botanicals, many of which have been shown to possess therapeutic efficacy, and 8 inorganic compounds, all prepared into a paste in a palm sugar and hen’s egg base. The efficacy of RL in killing prostate cancer cells in vitro was investigated in this study to determine whether RL could be recommended as a CAM for prostate cancer.

Methods

In order to scientifically validate the anticancer activity of RL on prostate cancer, a methanolic extract of RL was serially extracted with four organic solvents, and the extracts were tested for clonogenic inhibition and induction of apoptosis in PC-3 prostate cancer cells, with and without irradiation. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of RL effectively killed PC-3 cells.

Results

The IC50 values of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of RL were 3.84 μg/ml, 3.68 μg/ml and 75 ng/ml, respectively. All three extracts induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Further, all the three extracts when combined with radiation, caused enhanced effect on killing of PC-3 cells. Among the three extracts, the chloroform extract showed the most significant radiation-sensitizing effect.

Conclusion

RL, either in its original formulation prepared under strict quality control or its chloroform extract, could potentially be an alternative medicine for prostate cancer, and also a sensitizing agent in the context of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, as a complementary medicine. A more directed study could lead to the identification of the active principle(s) in the chloroform extract of RL for use in prostate cancer therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Room No 209D, 900 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, USA

    Rama S. Ranga & Damodaran Chendil

  2. Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, 620024, Tiruchirappalli, India

    Ramankutty Girija & Mohammed A. Akbarsha

  3. Division of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA

    Mohammed Nur-e-alam & Jürgen Rohr

  4. Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA

    Sabapathy Sathishkumar & Mansoor M. Ahmed

  5. Tiruchirappalli 620024, India

    Subbiah Thirugnanam

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  1. Rama S. Ranga
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Correspondence to Damodaran Chendil.

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Ranga, R.S., Girija, R., Nur-e-alam, M. et al. Rasagenthi lehyam (RL) a novel complementary and alternative medicine for prostate cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 54, 7–15 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-004-0770-9

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