Natural supplements can be very helpful adjuvants to drug therapies, for example through chemosensitization of tumor cells. Unfortunately, it seems that very often there's little or no follow-through when readily available natural products show great potential in cancer treatment. Here's a list of compounds with potential anticancer effects, and synergistic combinations. These are some of the safest and most effective natural substances to inhibit cancer growth and proliferation through multiple mechanisms.
- Artemisinin π CT FER AA HIF → DHA docosahexaenoic acid π ↓ST3 FER
- → L-alanine π T RA → Citric acid π GI RL RA → Melatonin π ↓ E⏷* → Shikonin π
- → Honokiol ↑ π LDHAi RMDR → (orlistat) FAS FER πͺπΆ → (aspirin) πͺπΆ (+ 200mg vit. C)
- + HDACi π → Melatonin ☼ π → Curcumin ↗ → Cannabidiol π → Magnolol
- → Allicin π CCAA RMDR → Ginger/6-Shogaol π ICD NO▼ → Anthocyanin π AM▼
- → Ornithine RA
- → Chlorogenic acid ↓ π RAS → Theobromine π AA E⏷
- → Rosmarinic acid π
- → Astragalus π AM▼
- → ↓ Apigenin π CCAA ↓ → Salvia miltiorrhiza π FER → ↓ Astragalus π T ˃
- Curcumin π ST3 G3 MT → Emodin → (celecoxib) πͺπΆ COX-2 → Luteolin π → Apigenin π
- → 2:3 Docosahexaenoic acid π → Butyrate π → Citric acidπ GI RL RA → Graviola π
- → Melatonin ☼ → Andrographis π → Berberine πMT CT HIF → D-limonene π
- Danshen ↑AM▼ π → Naringin RA ↘ → 3:2 Quercetin
- → Shikonin ICD GI E⏷NK→ Apigenin ↑ Fisetin ↑
- → Piperlongumine π FER ST3 → Sanguinarine → Berberine π ↘ → Caffeine
- → Gallic acid FER → Chlorogenic acid π Evodiamine COX-2
- → Taurine RA
- → Boswellia ↓π → (celecoxib) πͺπΆ
- ⇒ EGCg π π FAS *↗ → Quercetin → Grapeseed extract π AA E⏷ → P. linteus
- → ↓Luteolin π TGFΞ²i → (celecoxib) πͺπΆ
- → IP6 & Inositol π (+ 200mg Vit. C) → Pterostilbene π ˃
- → Ginger / 6-Shogaol π AM▼ → Licorice → Boswellia CCAA
- → Chlorogenic acid π RAS → Theobromine π AA E⏷
- → Lipoic acid π AM▼ → Hydroxycitrate → (orlistat) πͺπΆ ROSI
- →↓ Milk Thistle π → Baicalein π HIF AA ST3 → Salvia miltiorrhiza π AM▼
- ↓ Nigella Sativa / Thymoquinone π AA HIF NFi → Emodin
- → ↓ Vitamin D ☼ π
- → Sulforaphane π * ↗ → Dihydrocaffeic Acid
- → (aspirin)
- → Biochanin A
- → Myricetin → Baicalein π
- → Vitamin C π
- → Vitamin K2 E⏷*
- → Magnesium RL
- → Juglone CCAA → Selenium
- → Riboflavin E⏷
- → Ashwagandha π
- ⇒ Bicarbonate π → Galla Chinensis LDHAi
- → Galangal → Tulsi → Piper nigrum
- → ↓ Berberine π MT CT HIF RMDR → Zinc
- → Oligomeric proanthocyanidins → Ginko biloba → Ξ²-caryophyllene π
- → Garcinol π
- → Carnosic acid↓ → Fisetin → Quercetin → Caffeic acid → Coumaric acid π
- Mistletoe AA → Chaga π → Rosmarinic acid π RMDR EGFR → Cinnamon RA
To enhance the absorption and bioavailability of supplements that dissolve in fat, consume them alongside a source of dietary fat such as ghee butter or coconut oil. The optimal dosage for the mentioned compounds in this blog is not known and would depend on the type of cancer and the individual patient's response to the treatment.
It could be beneficial to take anticancer supplements late at night and to include a time during the night in your supplementation schedule e.g. 3AM "study suggests that nighttime is the right time for cancer to grow and spread in the body and that administering certain treatments in time with the body's day-night cycle could boost their efficiency"{ref|ref}.
Synergistic natural compounds for cancer treatment
A natural substance might display potential against cancer but its effectiveness limited by the excessively high concentrations required to achieve notable benefits (in vitro concentrations not achievable in vivo). However, if synergies exist those same substances may become noticeably effective at lower concentrations. Such combinations of nutraceuticals can also be used to overcome drug resistance or to sensitize cancer cells to therapeutic agents.
A multi-layered approach using coactive combinations of natural substances applied in specific sequences may be a very powerful anti-cancer strategy.
→ anticancer synergy with Artemisinin
→ likely to be a good antineoplastic combination
→ ferroptosis
→ combination may offer hepatoprotective effects
˃ anticancer synergy, continue with the first compound on the next line.
(....) OTC drugs: I've included a few non-oncology drugs with the potential for enhanced anti-cancer action if used in combination with specific supplements. Repurposing non-oncology drugs is an attractive approach to improving cancer therapy.
πΆ Be aware of drug interactions e.g. concurrent use of natural products with anticoagulants may result in prolonged bleeding times and should be avoided.
πͺ Drug Repurposing
Potential Anticancer Mechanism
- ICD Immunogenic cell death
- GI inhibitor of glycolysis
- CT cytotoxic
- RMDR reversing multidrug resistance/sensitization
- MT multiple targets
- CCAA cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
- FAS fatty acid synthase inhibition
- AA anti-angiogenic
- EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor Inhibition
- LR lactate reduction
- FER ferroptosis induction, avoid co-administration of FER inhibitors EGCG, Sulforaphane, Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), Vitamin K, and other substances.
- * Take separately and at least two hours apart from ferroptosis inducers unless it's a synergistic combination.
- AMPK ampk activator
- COX-2 cox-2 inhibitor
- AI anti-inflammatory
- FAK focal adhesion kinase downregulation
- SERM selective estrogen receptor modulator
- HIF hypoxia-inducible factor inhibition drug resistance▼
- AM ▼▲autophagy modulation
- NO▼ Nitric Oxide
- ROSI reduces oxidative stress and inflammation
- NFi NF-ΞΊΞ² inhibition (see also)
- ST3 STAT3 inhibition
- PDK inhibition
- RA reduce ammonia (see also)
- HDACi HDAC inhibition
- MiR modulate immune response
- E⏷ reduces estrogen
- RAS reducing Ras activity
- TGFΞ²i inhibition of TGF-Ξ²
- LDHAi inhibition of LDHA
- NK stimulates the production of NK cells (additionally, check #7 here)
- G3 galectin 3 inhibition: MCP, curcumin, spiraeoside (red onions), QiShenYiQi, formic acid (apples, strawberries, raspberries, honey, nettles)
- T activation of T cells
12 Dietary Strategies to put the brakes on cancer growth
SYNERGIES & STRATEGIES
This Excel spreadsheet contains an extensive list of natural compounds and repurposed drugs that have been found to have synergistic anticancer effects. Furthermore, it provides strategies for targeting cancer signaling pathways and hallmark cancer processes with natural substances, repurposed drugs, and diet.
Cautions regarding the combination of supplements and medication
✅ Read this first: Warnings, Terms of Use & Disclaimer
CAUTION Don't exceed the maximum suggested dosages, start with the lowest possible dose and gradually increase if no side effect is observed.
If you take medications always check if the supplement(s) can be combined with those drugs, especially with chemotherapy, diabetes medications, anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (including aspirin), benzodiazepines, etc. Ask a 'Drug Interaction Specialist' Online.
Stop taking supplements a week before surgery, or consult with your surgeon.
To combine various supplements add one at a time, start with the lowest possible dose, and gradually increase if no side effect is observed.
To discontinue a supplement taper off by cutting to a half dose for a week before stopping.
Dosage, but also time is crucial to achieving a therapeutic effect.
Dosage, but also time is crucial to achieving a therapeutic effect.
Supplements should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Supplements or herbal preparations shouldn't be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or any other cancer treatment unless the safety and efficacy of such combinations are established. It's especially important to make sure anything you add to the standard treatment will further improve the efficacy of that treatment, hence the importance of discussing any addition of supplements or dietary interventions during active cancer treatment with the oncologist.
A partial list of studies and reviews:
- A randomized study of chemotherapy versus biochemotherapy with chemotherapy plus Aloe arborescens in patients with metastatic cancer
- From ancient herb to modern drug: Artemisia annua and artemisinin for cancer therapy.
- Methods for the treatment of cancer using piperlongumine and piperlongumine analogs
- The central role of citrate in the metabolism of cancer cells. "citrate has demonstrated anti-cancer properties when administered in excess, sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy."
- Turkey Tail and Polysaccharide-K
- Red (Panax) ginseng and cancer treatment.
- Absorption, metabolism, anti-cancer effect and molecular targets of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG): An updated review.
- Activation of tumor suppressor LKB1 by honokiol abrogates cancer stem-like phenotype in breast cancer via inhibition of oncogenic Stat3.
- Curcumin decreases Warburg effect in cancer cells by down-regulating pyruvate kinase M2 via mTOR-HIF1Ξ± inhibition
- Berberine Enhances Chemosensitivity and Induces Apoptosis Through Dose-orchestrated AMPK Signaling in Breast Cancer
- Curcumin And Berberine – Offers New Hope In The Treatment Of Breast And Other Cancers?
- Anti-cancer effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan)
- Withaferin A (WFA) inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by targeting ovarian cancer stem cells
- Therapeutic Interventions Using Ursolic Acid for Cancer Treatment
- Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of cancer
- Recent advances in the anti-cancer properties of Nigella sativa, a widely used food additive
- Phycocyanin: A Potential Drug for Cancer Treatment
- Pyrroloquinoline quinone induces chondrosarcoma cell apoptosis by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species
- Oleanolic Acid Alters Multiple Cell Signaling Pathways: Implication in Cancer Prevention and Therapy
- Molecular Iodine Induces Caspase-independent Apoptosis in Human Breast Carcinoma Cells Involving the Mitochondria-mediated Pathway
- Brown Seaweed Fucoidan Inhibits Cancer Progression by Dual Regulation of mir-29c/ADAM12 and miR-17-5p/PTEN Axes in Human Breast Cancer Cells
- D-limonene rich volatile oil from blood oranges inhibits angiogenesis, metastasis and cell death in human colon cancer cells
- A novel therapeutic anticancer property of raw garlic extract via injection but not ingestion
- Nature curing cancer – review on structural modification studies with natural active compounds having anti-tumor efficiency
- Clinical Response of Metastatic Breast Cancer to Multi-targeted Therapeutic Approach: A Single Case Report
- Effects of supplements on medicines
- How does turmeric/curcumin interact with coffee/caffeine?
- Microalgae in modern cancer therapy: Current knowledge
- Role of Magnesium in Vitamin D Activation and Function
- Vegetables, fruit, and colon cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study
- Tumor Angiogenesis as a Target for Dietary Cancer Prevention
- Short chain fatty acids enriched fermentation metabolites of soluble dietary fibre from Musa paradisiaca drives HT29 colon cancer cells to apoptosis
- Natural Products and Synthetic Analogs as a Source of Antitumor Drugs
- Ursolic Acid—A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid with aWide Spectrum of Pharmacological Activities
- Plants Against Cancer: A Review on Natural Phytochemicals in Preventing and Treating Cancers and Their Druggability
- Salvia miltiorrhiza: Chemical and pharmacological review of a medicinal plant
- Phytochemicals of garlic: Promising candidates for cancer therapy
- Selenium a Potential Treatment for Cancer Metastasis
- Phenylbutyrate-induced glutamine depletion in humans: effect on leucine metabolism.
- Getting the Balance Right – Vitamin D Co-Factors
- Cancer Cells Upregulate NRF2 Signaling to Adapt to Autophagy Inhibition
- Autophagy supplies the amino acids necessary for driving mitochondrial OXPHOS in glycolysis-suppressed cells
- Synergistic Interactions in Natural Products and Medication
- Curcumin Nicotinate Selectively Induces Cancer Cell Apoptosis and Cycle Arrest through a P53-Mediated Mechanism
- Retrolective Studies on the Survival of Cancer Patients Treated With Mistletoe Extracts: A Meta-analysis
- Upon glycolytic suppression in multiple types of tumor cells, intracellular energy metabolism is reprogrammed toward mitochondrial OXPHOS in an autophagy-dependent manner to ensure cellular survival.
- Role of Plants in Stage IV Cancer
- Using the Heat-Shock Response To Discover Anticancer Compounds that Target Protein Homeostasis "Surprisingly, many of the strongly active compounds identified were natural products representing five diverse chemical classes (limonoids, curvularins, withanolides, celastraloids, and colletofragarones)"
- Neem components as potential agents for cancer prevention and treatment
- Anticancer and Cytotoxic Potential of Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extracts on HeLa cell line
- Curcumin-Artesunate Based Polymeric Nanoparticle; Antiplasmodial and Toxicological Evaluation in Murine Model
- https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/bmc/4/3/article-p287.xml?language=en
- Dying Cells Have Cellular 'Death Code'
- Peptides & Proteins
- Host defense peptides and peptidomimetics as new weapons for cancer treatment
- Synthetic and natural iron chelators: therapeutic potential and clinical use
- Natural Compound Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi): Synergy with Inflammatory Signaling Pathway Modulators and Clinical Applications in Cancer
- Research Strategies in the Study of the Pro-Oxidant Nature of Polyphenol Nutraceuticals
- Inhibitors of DNA Methyltransferases From Natural Sources: A Computational Perspective
- Pathways in cancer - Homo sapiens (human)
- Metabilc Pathway
- The TNF Paradox in Cancer Progression and Immunotherapy
- Potential risks associated with traditional herbal medicine use in cancer care
- Lysine-carnitine conversion in normal and undernourished adult men-suggestion of a nonpeptidyl pathway
- Why the tumor cell metabolism is not that abnormal
- Understanding the synergy of cancer growth to advance care
- Niacin ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, proteinuria, and hypertension in rats with chronic renal failure
- The reverse Warburg effect is likely to be an Achilles' heel of cancer that can be exploited for cancer therapy
- The Effect of Zinc and Lysine Supplementation on Infection Rate and CD4 Count
- Raging the War Against Inflammation With Natural Products
- Ascorbic acid co-administration with artemisinin-based combination therapies in falciparum malaria
- Natural products as potent inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor-1Ξ± in cancer therapy
- HIF1A Employs CDK8-Mediator to Stimulate RNAPII Elongation in Response to Hypoxia
- A comparison of resveratrol and other polyphenolic compounds on Notch activation and endothelial cell activity
- Low-dose mistletoe lectin-I reduces melanoma growth and spread in a scid mouse xenograft model
- Is Curcumin the Answer to Future Chemotherapy Cocktail?
- Understanding the Role of Autophagy in Cancer Formation and Progression Is a Real Opportunity to Treat and Cure Human Cancers
- Natural Compounds and Autophagy Modulation
- Flavonoids as inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase
- Effect of luteolin and apigenin on rosmarinic acid bioavailability in Caco-2 cell monolayers
- The Synergistic Cooperation between TGF-Ξ² and Hypoxia in Cancer and Fibrosis
- Synergistic enhancement of anticancer effects on numerous human cancer cell lines treated with the combination of EGCG, other green tea catechins, and anticancer compounds
- Immune Checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 CTLA-4/CD80 are Blocked by Rhus verniciflua Stokes and its Active Compounds
- Dietary quercetin potentiates the antiproliferative effect of interferon-Ξ± in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through activation of JAK/STAT pathway signaling by inhibition of SHP2 phosphatase
- Magnesium is essential for the immune system, including in the fight against cancer
- Synthetic Pathways and the Therapeutic Potential of Quercetin and Curcumin
- Magnesium in Oncogenesis
- Prevention and treatment of tumor lysis syndrome, and the efficacy and role of rasburicase
- What to know about ABC Transporters
- The Anticancer Activity of Caffeine - A Review
- An omega-3 that's poison for tumors
- Synergistic Effects of Caffeine in Combination with Conventional Drugs: Perspectives of a Drug That Never Ages
- Targeting Autophagy with Natural Products as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Cancer
- Inhibition of glutamine synthesis induces glutamate dehydrogenase-dependent ammonia fixation into alanine in co-cultures of astrocytes and neurons
- Regulation of ferroptosis by bioactive phytochemicals: Implications for medical nutritional therapy
- Structure, function and antagonists of urokinase-type plasminogen activator
- Cellular Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cancer
Solely intended for informational use, none of my writing constitutes medical advice.