Radioprotective Effects of Vitexina for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy With Cobalt-60

Abstract

Vitexina, a product containing the flavonoid vitexin as the main component, is derived from a plant, Vigna radiata (L.), that has been traditionally used in Vietnam for detoxification. This remedy is also used to treat the symptoms of conditions classified as "hot" in traditional medicine. The present study is a randomized, placebo-controlled comparative clinical trial for investigating the radioprotective effects of Vitexina for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy with cobalt-60. No relevant weight loss, (even weight gain), occurred in 70% of patients in the Vitexina group, whereas 73% of the placebo group lost 1 to 2 kg of weight after 6 weeks of radiation therapy. The administration of Vitexina produced a significantly protective effect in peripheral blood cells in amount and in lymphocyte blast-transformation function. Condition of hot was observed in almost all cancer patients in this study by tongue examination. Hot condition did not change in the Vitexina group, but the incidence of hot and extreme hot cases were significantly increased in the placebo group after 6 weeks of radiation therapy. The results suggest that application of medicinal plants of the "clearing heat and detoxification" classification as an adjuvant would be a potential solution in integrative cancer therapy.

Evaluation of Flavonoid Contents and Antioxidant Capacity of the Aerial Parts of Common and Tartary Buckwheat Plants

“…Recently we showed the following rank of the antioxidant activity of flavone C -glucosides as compared to quercetin: quercetin ≥ homoorientin > orientin > isovitexin > vitexin [ 5 ]. Various biological and pharmacological activities have been attributed to these compounds, such as hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic [ 25 ], antimicrobial [ 26 ], radioprotective effects [ 27 ] and anti-glycation activities [ 28 ]. Therefore, preferentially accumulation of flavone C -glucosides in unripe seeds collected from common buckwheat at 48 DAS is an important outcome of this study.…”

Identification of flavonoids using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and ion trap tandem mass spectrometry with an MS/MS library

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that many flavonoid compounds exert protective effects against the development of certain cancers,1 cardiovascular risk,2 inflammatory diseases,3 coronary heart disease, and strokes 4. Other pharmacological activities have also been attributed to flavonoids, including antimicrobial,5 antioxidant,6, 7 free radical scavenging properties,8 and radioprotective effects 9…”

Antioxidative and Anti-Glycation Activity of Buckwheat Hull Tea Infusion

“…Various biological and pharmacological activities have been attributed to these compounds, such as hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antioxidant/free radical scavenging, radioprotective effects, and anti-glycation activities. [48][49][50] Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) accumulation has been implicated as a major pathogenic process in diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and aging. [25] The BSA-glucose model adopted in this study provides a useful tool for the evaluation of the activity of buckwheat hull tea and green tea as glycation inhibitors.…”