Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.

INFORMATION FROM THE CANCER CONTROL SOCIETY CONVENTION OF 2017

Hello Thursday,

Difficulties, hardships, hard times we all face them in life. Adversity in our life may seem like a problem, however, adversity can make us grow and learn, an opportunity that we may never have experienced. It all depends on how you look at it.

Most people don't seek out adversity, life can be tough enough without looking for trouble, but successful people don't run from it either. They use each adversity as a tool. It's been said, life is a grindstone and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up, depends on what you're made of.

With each adversity comes the opportunity to decide "what you're made of".

Tough times hit everyone, but will they make you feel powerless and incapable?

For some this is what happens and they begin the blame game. Blaming other people and circumstances for their life. It's my bosses’ fault, my parents raised me this way, I have bad genetics...

Adversity is also an opportunity to feel powerful and capable. You have the ability to choose your response rather than fall into the "Blame Game". Know that you're capable of taking on the challenge and growing to become the type of person who can succeed.

Adversity, it can break you or make you if you let it, the choice is yours.

Many are touched by adversity, they fall down and they never get back up, whereas some go through adversity and their true self.

Think of this day like the growth of a tree. Growing stronger and able to face adversity of the winds and storms with the experience that each year brings.

Much happiness and love come your way on this very special day. Catherine Pulsifert

Continuing on INFORMATION FROM THE CANCER CONTROL SOCIETY CONVENTION OF 2017, today I’m blogging on an interesting concept of anticancer potential of aloes; antioxidant, antiproliferative, immunostimulatory attributes. Also, effects of honey and its mechanisms of action on the development, and progression of cancer.

Anticancer potential of aloes: antioxidant, antiproliferative, and immunostimulatory attributes.

Aloe is a genus of medicinal plants with a notable history of medical use. Basic research over the past couple of decades has begun to reveal the extent of aloe’s pharmaceutical potential, particularly against neoplastic disease. This review looks at aloe, both the genus and the folk medicine; often being called informally aloes and delineates their chemistry and anticancer pharmacognosy.

Structures of key compounds are provided and their pharmacological activities reviewed. Particular attention is given to their free radical scavenging, antiproliferative and immunostimulatory properties. This review highlights major research directions on aloes, reflecting the enormous potential of natural sources and of the genus aloe in particular in preventing and treating cancer.

Aloe is a genus of small to large, evergreen perennials. With fleshy, sword to lance-shaped leaves belonging to the Xanthorrthoceae family. This genus comprises about 400 species native to sub- Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabian Peninsula and many islands of the Western Indian Ocean. Although thought to grow only in hot and dry climates, aloe plants actually grow in a variety of climates; including desert, grassland, coastal or even alpine locations. However, the majority are arid zone plants inhabiting the deserts of South Africa. These succulents are subjected to the dry areas of the tropics and sub-tropics; such at steppers, semi-desert and desert. They are forced to collect and store water to survive long in dry periods. Aloe plants have long been the source of important products due to their leaf’s exudes being used to a great extent in traditional medicine.

☔ CHANGE 🌄

Aloe plants exhibit anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Their antineo-plastic property is due to at least three different mechanisms based on antiproliferative, immunostimulatory and antioxidant effects. The antiproliferative action is determined by anthracenic and anthraquinonic molecules; such as aloe-emodin , aloesin, and aloin (also barbaloin). This includes in the gel of the aloe vera leaf, while then immunostimulating activity is mainly due to acemannan.

A mucopolysaccha ride of aloe vera gel and to aloemannan included in the leaves of aloe arborescens. Both plants displaying antitumor activities in vitro through activation of immune responses. Polyphenols and other reactive oxygen species scavengers act preventively through their antioxidant effects.

Aloe vera also called barbadensis is the most known species of the aloe genus and the most researched one. Over 4000 studies were preformed on the effectiveness of aloe vera in medical treatment and part of which addressed their role in recovery from diagnosed cancer. It grows mainly in arid and semiarid climates.

Although, this plant as well as aloe arborescens and other aloes are found also in non-arid countries like Greece, Italy, and Japan. Naturalized stands of the species occur in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula and throughout North Africa,

Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Sudan and neighboring countries, Canary, Cape Verde and Madeira Islands. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine such as in treating wounds and burns; but also, diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans. These effects are attributed to compounds such as polysaccharides, mannans, anthraquinones and lectins- present in the aloe leaves gel.

Effects of honey and its mechanism of action on the development and progression of cancer.

Honey is a natural product known for its varied biological or pharmacological activities ranging from anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antihypertensive to hypoglycemic effects.

This review article focuses on the role of honey in modulating the development and progression of tumors or cancers. It reviews available evidence some of which is very recent with regards to the antimetastatic, antiproliferative and anticancer effects of honey in various forms of cancer.

These effects of honey have been thoroughly investigated in certain cancers such as breast, liver and colorectal cancer cell lines. In contrast, limited but promising data are available for other forms of cancer including; prostate, bladder, endometrial, kidney, skin, cervical, oral and bone cancer cells.

The article also underscores the various possible mechanisms by which honey may inhibit growth and proliferation of tumors or cancers. These include regulation of cell cycle, activation of mitochondrial pathway, induction of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, induction of apoptosis, modulation of oxidative stress, amelioration of inflammation, modulation of insulin signaling and inhibition of angiogenesis. Honey is highly cytotoxic against tumor or cancer cells while it is non-cytotoxic to normal cells. The data indicates that honey can inhibit carcinogenesis by modulating the molecular processes of initiation, promotion and progression stages. Thus, it may serve as a potential and promising anticancer agent which warrants further experimental and clinical studies.

Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent; a review of its mechanisms.

Annually cancer is diagnosed in approximately 11 million people causing 7.6 million deaths worldwide. Cancer is a multi step process. It starts as an onset from a single transformed cell. Its genesis is characterized by the swift proliferation, invasion and metastasis.

This dynamic process is activated by various carcinogens, tumor promoters and inflammatory agents. The whole modulation is controlled through the transcription factors, proapoptotic proteins, protein kinases, cell cycle proteins, cell-adhesion molecules, cyclooxygenase and other molecular targets.

The standard treatments against cancer are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. New targets for cancer treatments focus on interfering with specific targeted molecules needed in carcinogenesis.

Natural products such as honey have potential anticancer effects.

Honey is composed of various sugars, flavonoids, phenolic acids, enzymes, amino acids, proteins and miscellaneous compounds. Its composition varies according to floral sources and origin. It has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant and anti-tumor effect.

The phenolic contents of honey have been reported to have antileukemic activity against different types of leukemic cell lines. Its anticancer activity has been proved against various cancer cell lines and tissues, such as breasts, colorectal, renal, prostate, endometrial, cervical and oral cancer.

Honey potentiates the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide. Studies exhibiting anticancer effects of honey range from tissues cultures and animal models to clinical trials. Polyphenols in honey are considered as one of the main factors responsible for the anticancer activity of honey.

This review presents the current progress in understanding the mechanism of the anticancer activity of honey.

Adversity is the first path to truth. Lord Byron

Heart Healthy - 1 Mile Walk | Walk at Home

To wrap up Heart Month, here is a brand-new Heart Healthy Walk! This is a 1 mile walk with a brand-new cast! Aerobic exercise is one of the TOP PROTECTORS of the heart. Our friends at the American Heart Association reminds us that by adding walking into our routine we strengthen our heart and reduce our risk of heart disease. Happy Walking!

Until tomorrow, like happiness and joy, adversity is also an inevitable part of life. Have a safe and peaceful day.