Chamomile May Inhibit Breast
Cancer Growth
Recent research indicates that chamomile extract can
induce the death of cancer cells by affecting their mitochondria, without
harming healthy cells.
Promising Findings in Breast
Cancer Research
According to a report by Fars News Agency
from Kermanshah, German chamomile, a medicinal plant traditionally valued for
its therapeutic properties, has recently garnered scientific attention as a
potential aid in breast cancer treatment.
Dr. Zahra Rashidi, a
faculty member in the Department of Anatomical Sciences at Kermanshah
University of Medical Sciences, shared insights from her research on the
effects of chamomile on cancer cells.
Mechanism of Action
Fars News Agency: How
does chamomile affect cancer cells?
Dr. Rashidi: Cancer
treatment remains a significant medical challenge. One approach to combating
this disease is by disrupting the metabolism of cancer cells. Our research
focused on how German chamomile extract influences mitochondria, the energy-producing
centers of cells.
Cancer cells require large amounts of energy
to survive and proliferate. This energy is primarily generated by mitochondria.
Our study demonstrated that German chamomile disrupts mitochondrial function,
increases free radical production, and ultimately induces cell death in cancer
cells.
Research Outcomes
The findings of this study are highly
promising:
- Chamomile extract significantly reduces the growth of
breast cancer cells.
- It elevates oxidative stress levels in cancer cells,
leading to their destruction.
- Unlike cancer cells, healthy breast cells remain
unaffected by chamomile extract.
Potential Role in Cancer
Treatment
Fars News Agency: Can
chamomile replace chemotherapy?
Dr. Rashidi: Chamomile
alone cannot replace conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
However, it holds promise as a complementary therapy alongside standard
treatments. Our goal is to enhance cancer treatment efficacy by integrating
herbal medicine with modern therapeutic approaches. Currently, we are in the
preclinical research phase, and further clinical studies are needed to confirm
chamomile’s effectiveness in cancer therapy. Nevertheless, our findings suggest
that this plant has significant potential in supporting breast cancer
treatment.
Research on the therapeutic potential of
medicinal plants in combating severe diseases continues, and it is hoped that
in the future, German chamomile may become an integral part of breast cancer
treatment.