Anticancer Activity of Bee Venom Components against Breast Cancer.

While the survival rate has increased due to treatments for breast cancer, the quality of life has decreased because of the side effects of chemotherapy. Various toxins are being developed as alternative breast cancer treatments, and bee venom is drawing attention as one of them. We analyzed the effect of bee venom and its components on breast cancer cells and reviewed the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of bee venom. Data up to March 2022 were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, OASIS, KISS, and Science Direct online databases, and studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Among 612 studies, 11 were selected for this research. Diverse drugs were administered, including crude bee venom, melittin, phospholipase A2, and their complexes. All drugs reduced the number of breast cancer cells in proportion to the dose and time. The mechanisms of anticancer effects included cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell targeting, gene expression regulation, and cell lysis. Summarily, bee venom and its components exert anticancer effects on human breast cancer cells. Depending on the mechanisms of anticancer effects, side effects are expected to be reduced by using various vehicles. Bee venom and its components have the potential to prevent and treat breast cancer in the future.

Efficacy of Rubus coreanus Miq. and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge Extract for Postmenopausal Syndrome: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo Comparative Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The most effective way to improve menopausal symptoms is to supplement deficient oestrogen; however, long-term administration of synthetic oestrogen increases the risk for breast and uterine cancers. Here, we report results from a clinical trial of Rubus coreanus Miq. and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge as agents for improving the menopause syndrome. METHODS: This study was a single-centre, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. The efficacy of an extract of R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge was investigated. Participants were females with postmenopausal syndrome in the menopausal or menopausal transition period. The primary endpoint of validation was improvement in the Kupperman index (KI) score of women. The secondary end point was change in the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and lipid profile. The participants were randomly allocated at a 1 : 1 ratio into R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract (RCAM) or placebo groups and were administered 2000 mg of the extract or placebo, respectively, daily for 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured at visits 2 (day 0) and 5 (week 12). RESULTS: The RCAM group demonstrated decreased KI score and MRS compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks. In the safety evaluation, laboratory tests and vital signs demonstrated no clinically significant changes in subjects, and there was no difference in adverse reactions between the groups. The R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract was effective in reducing postmenopausal symptoms in women. Moreover, the extract was found to be safe. CONCLUSIONS: For females with menopausal symptoms in the menopausal transitional and postmenopausal periods, ingestion of the R. coreanus Miq. and A. membranaceus Bunge extract for 12 weeks was effective, as demonstrated by a decrease in KI score and MRS relative to that in the placebo group, and significantly improved the menopausal symptoms.

Efficacy and safety of ucha-shinki-hwan on korean patients with cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet: Study protocol clinical trial (SPIRIT Compliant).

BACKGROUND: Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a common complaint in Asian female population especially in Korea. Due to the symptoms of CHHF the quality of individual's daily life can be degraded. Ucha-Shinki-Hwan (UCHA) is widely used in the treatment of various diseases including CHHF by harmonizing Yin and Yang, and improving the vitality of whole body. However, the efficacy of UCHA as a treatment option of CHHF has not been assessed in trials. Thus, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of UCHA in Korean women with CHHF through this trial. METHODS: This study will be an exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter trial. Korean women aged 19 to 59 years who complaint with CHHF will be enrolled from 5 university affiliated Korean medicine hospitals. A total of 164 subjects will be randomly assigned to a treatment group (UCHA) or a placebo group at a 1:1 ratio. The subjects will receive 2.5 g of either UCHA or placebo three times a day for 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be evaluated with the visual analog scale score of CHHF. The secondary outcome measures will be changes in skin temperature in extremities as measured by using a thermometer and the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version. DISCUSSION: This study will be the first trial to explore the efficacy and safety of UCHA for CHHF patient. This will provide meaningful clinical information on herbal medicine treatment of CHHF and a clinical evidence for planning a full randomized clinical trial. DISCLOSURES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors report no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03790033. Registered on (31 December 2018) PROTOCOL VERSION:: The final approved version of the trial protocol is V1.3. (25 January 2019).