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Black topical salve contains1:

 

* chaparral

* zinc chloride

* bloodroot

* galangal root

* graviola

* bitter melon seed

* glycerine

 

 

Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2)

According to Alpha Omega Laboratories, the manufacturer of Cansema® Black Topical Salve, zinc chloride is included in the formula to “increase the antineoplastic and antiviral activity of nordihydroguaiaretic acid” which is the active component of chaparral. They state that the effect has “long been known” although the mechanism is yet to be elucidated2.

Metallozymes found in the body such as copper/zinc-dependent superoxide dismutase catalyse the breakdown of superoxide anions to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide3. Superoxide anions are a free radical, and one of their damaging effects is increased cell proliferation. A mechanism by which NDGA is said to prevent cancer formation is by its ability to scavenge free radicals in redox reactions. One major source of oxidative stress is the metabolism of arachidonic acid3, and NDGA blocks pathways involved in this by inhibiting the enzymes lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase. It has been shown that zinc at low concentrations can inhibit the activity of 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase4 so perhaps the effect of zinc is to provide additive inhibition, but hard evidence to support the claim made by Alpha Omega Laboratories about the adjuvant effect is lacking.

Interestingly, zinc promotes repair of damaged cells by increasing DNA synthesis and stimulating cell proliferation, and this activity is antagonised by NDGA because of its action in preventing arachidonic acid production. Zinc levels are increased in the presence of arachidonic acid5, 6.

Zinc is also contained in Cansema® Tonic I and Cansema® Capsules.

 

Galangal root (Alpinia officinarum)

According to Alpha Omega Laboratories, the manufacturer of Cansema® Black Topical Salve, galangal root (Figure 17) is “an adjuvant to the overall action of chaparral” 2.

Galangal extract has been used as a preservative in meat due to its ability to inhibit lipid oxidation8.

A diarylheptanoid 7-(4’-hydroxy-3’-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-hept-4-en-3-one, extracted from galangal, blocks the activity of the enzymes lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase9, 10 and downregulates the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 messenger RNA in vitro10. It may thus provide additive effects with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (see Chaparral).

Galangal contains a mixture of flavonoids; the three main ones include galangin, quercetin and kaempferol11. Galangin has been shown to be antimutagenic in vivo against alkylating agents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and radiomimetic agents. In addition to this, in oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, galangin decreases tumour proliferation9. Quercetin and kaempferol are inhibitors of the enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS). Activity of this enzyme is related to some human diseases, including tumours, where it is vital to growth and survival. FAS is often highly expressed in cancerous cells but not in normal tissues, which means that targeting FAS with selective inhibitors would not harm normal cells, and it has been suggested that “the strong inhibitory activity of alcoholic galangal extract towards FAS … opens up excellent prospects for its application as an anti-cancer agent” 11. However, at this stage most of the data available is in vitro or animal data and thus theoretical.

Galangal is used as a spice7 and the United States Food and Drug Administration classifies lesser galangal as “generally regarded as safe” (21 CFR Section 182.10, 182.20)10, so inclusion of galangal in Cansema® products should not create problems with toxicity.

Galangal root is also contained in Cansema® Tonic I and Cansema® Capsules.

 

Glycerine

Glycerine is included in Black Topical Salve as a humectant, to keep the product moist1.

 

 

 

Alpha Omega Laboratories, the manufacturers of the Cansema® range, describe their Deep Tissue formula as “the result of two years of experimentation to increase the transdermal properties for applications where greater depth through the dermal layers is desirable or necessary”. They go on to explain instances in which enhanced penetration power may be required, such as for tumours found on the palm, ball of foot or other area of the body where the epidermis is thicker, or if growths are located in underlying tissue and will not be reached by the Original Formula 12.

 

The Deep Tissue formula contains the same cancerolytic ingredients as the Original Formula, in addition to Emu oil and dimethyl sulphoxide12. To find out what additional qualities these additives impart to the salve, click the links below:

 

 

Emu Oil

Emu oil is available in over-the-counter preparations usually marketed as moisturisers. It is a highly lipophilic substance, and it has been suggested that inclusion of this oil in lotions allows deeper penetration of the layers of the skin because it acts as a transcutaneous carrier13. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and contradictory effects on wound healing and cellular regeneration14. If applied immediately after a wound has been inflicted, healing is delayed, however application after inflammation has reduced (usually two days or so) promotes epithelialisation and keratinocyte proliferation by stimulating mitosis13, 14. Perhaps of most interest is that the application of Emu oil does not appear to cause adverse effects13.

 

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)
DMSO (Figure 115) was one of the first penetration enhancers to be developed, and as such is probably the most widely studied. If it is spilled on the skin, it can be tasted in the mouth within seconds, and it is also extremely effective for promoting the permeation of both hydrophilic and lipophilic substances. DMSO interacts with lipid domains of the stratum corneum by binding to the head group of phospholipids in the skin’s lipid bilayer to distort the packing geometry. Usually a concentration exceeding 60% is required to optimally enhance penetration of active substances but this concentrated a solution can cause erythema and skin damage15. In Deep Tissue Formula, DMSO is included at a concentration of 15%12, which is probably insufficient to cause permanent damage or troublesome irritation.

Interestingly, DMSO is an inhibitor of histone deacetylation (HDAC) (see Figure 216). It has been shown that deacetylation of histone proteins can repress transcription of tumour suppressor genes, and so DMSO may have a role in increasing transcription of genes which arrest cell growth and/or cause apoptosis16.

 

 

 

Figure 2: Inhibition of HDAC by DMSO results in transcription of genes causing cell cycle arrest, cell differentiation and apoptosis

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Alpha Omega Laboratories, the manufacturers of the Cansema® range, noticed that “those who pretreat an area with Lugol's often have a shorter escharisation phase”17. They go on to mention that the mechanism for this is “little more than [an] educated guess” 17 although “it may serve to eliminate viral or even pleomorphic organisms that assists in 'triggering' cancinogenesis or its later stages, assisting other cancerolytic agents in better doing their job” 17.

 

Its ability to penetrate the stratum corneum is greater than the Original Formula but not the Deep Tissue Formula.

 

Cansema® Salve with Iodine is prepared by adding 20% Lugol’s Solution to the Original Formula. Lugol’s solution consists of, by weight17:

·      10% potassium iodide

·      5% iodine crystal

·      85% distilled water

 

There is no evidence regarding the ability of iodide to enhance cancerolytic action of any of the other ingredients in the salve, or to have cancerolytic properties on its own. It has been shown that iodine decreases the formation of superoxide anions18 (Wagner 2004), and that iodine deficiency may cause oxidative stress, increasing levels of H2O219. As some ingredients in the formula such as chaparral have antioxidant activity, iodine may have an additive effect.

 

Solutions of povidone-iodine with concentrations exceeding 1% are cytotoxic18. This formula does come with the precaution that it should not be applied to an area of skin larger than 2 cm2 17.

 

 

References

  1. Kehr RW (2004). Alternative Cancer Treatments Information Centre: Black Topical Salve [online]. Available http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/Cansema.html (20/09/2004)

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  1. Alpha Omega Laboratories (2004). Cansema: The Internationally Recognised Skin Cancer Treatment System [online]. Available http://www.altcancer.com/capsules.htm (20/09/2004)

                        Searched:           Scirus http://www.scirus.com

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  1. Bianchi A, Bécuwe P, Franck P, Dauça M. Induction of MnSOD gene by arachidonic acid is mediated by reactive oxygen species and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 32(1):1132-42 (2002)

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  1. Heo MY, Sohn SJ, Au WW. Anti-genotoxicity of galangin as a cancer chemopreventative agent candidate. Mutation Research 488:135-50 (2001)

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                        Limits:                English, Medline

  1. Yadav PN, Liu Z, Rafi MM. A diarylheptanoid from Lesser Galangal (Alpinia officinarum) inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators via inhibition of MAP kinase, p44/42 and transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 305:925-31 (2003)

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  1. Li BH. Tian WX. Presence of fatty acid synthase inhibitors in the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum hance. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition & Medicinal Chemistry. 18(4):349-56 (2003)

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                        Limits:                English, Medline

  1. Alpha Omega Laboratories (2004). Cansema, The Internationally Recognised Skin Cancer Treatment System: Deep Tissue Formula [online]. Available http://www.altcancer.com/cansema_deep.htm (20/09/2004)

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  1. Politis MJ, Dmytrowich A. Promotion of second intention wound healing by emu oil lotion: comparative results with furasin, Polysporin and cortisone. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 102(7):2404-7 (1998)

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  1. Alpha Omega Laboratories (2004). Cansema, The Internationally Recognised Skin Cancer Treatment System: Salve with Iodine [online]. Available http://www.altcancer.com/cansema_iodine.htm (20/09/2004)

                        Searched:           Scirus http://www.scirus.com

                        Keywords:         Cansema

  1. Wagner K-H, Jur A, Zarembach B, Elmadfa I. Impact of antiseptics on radical metabolism, antioxidant status and genotoxic stress in blood cells: povidone iodine vs. octenide dihydrocloride. Toxicology In Vitro 18:411-8 (2004)

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                        Limits:                journal articles only