Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2008; 29(02): 11-18
DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.51426
Original Article

An ayurvedic herbal compound to reduce toxicity to cancer chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial

Abha Saxena
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Smita Dixit
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Sandeep Aggarwal
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Vuthaluru Seenu
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Rajinder Prashad
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
S Bhushan
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Varna Tranikanti
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
M Misra
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Anurag Srivastava
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background: Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK) is an ayurvedic compound containing many herbs rich in antioxidants. We evaluated its role in reduction of chemotherapy toxicity among women with breast cancer. Patient and Methods:We recruited 214 patients with breast carcinoma receiving cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5- flourouracil (CMF) or cyclophosphamide, adriamycine,& 5-flourouracil (CAF), adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The toxicity of chemotherapy was assessed according to WHO criteria. Statistical analysis was carried out on Epi-info 6 and STATA-7. All patients received same antiemetic therapy with ondensetron and dexamethasone. Results:There was a significant reduction in toxicities observed in MAK group throughout chemotherapy cycles: Poor performance status was prevented by concomitant administration of MAK along with chemotherapy.(Prevented Fraction (PF)=60.6% (95% confidence interval 22.1 to 80.1 ; p value =0.005 ). Vomiting was prevented by MAK {PF=40.3%, (95% confidence interval 15.1 to 58.1; p value=0.002)}. Similarly anorexia was reduced with PF= 35.6%. (95% confidence interval 17.6 to 49.7, p value = 0.0001) in MAK group. No improvement occurred in stomatitis, diarrhea, alopecia and leucopenia. No overgrowth of tumours occurred in the group treated with Neoadjuvant chemotherapy receiving MAK. Conclusion:MAK may be used as a supplement along with chemotherapeutic drugs for reducing chemotherapy induced vomiting, anorexia and improving general well being of patients.



Publication History

Article published online:
02 March 2022

© 2008. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Dechant KL, Brogden RN, Pilkington T, Faulds D ifosfamide/mesna. A review of its antineoplastic activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in cancer. Drugs. 1991;42(3):428-67.
  • 2 Genvresse I, Lange C, Schanz J, et al. Tolerability of the cytoprotective agent in amifostine in elderly patients receiving chemotherapy: a comparative study. Anticancer Drugs; 2001;:12(4):345-9.
  • 3 Misra N.C. Sharma H.M, Chaturvedi A, et al., Antioxidant adjuvant therapy using natural herbal mixtures) MAK-4 and MAk-5) during intensive chemotherapy reduction in toxicity. A prospective study of 62 patients. Proceeding of the XVI international cancer congress Bologna, Italy, Monduzzi editore, 1994;3099-3102.
  • 4 Samaiya A, Srivastava A, Tarnakanti V, et al., Reduction on toxicity of cancer chemotherapy by maharishi amrit kalash (MAK)-An ayurvedic herbal compound. Annal National Academic medicine science (India) 1999;35(2):109-119.
  • 5 Sharma HM, Dwivedi C, Satter BC, et al., Antineoplastic properties of Mahrishi-4 [MAK-4] against DBA- induced mammary tumours in rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and behavior, 1990;35:767- 773.
  • 6 Sharma HM, Dwivedi C, Satter BC, Abou-Issa H. Antineoplastic properties of Maharshi Amrit Kalash [MAK-5], An ayurvedic food supplement, against 7,12- Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene-induced mammary tumours in rats. Journal of Research and Education in Indian Medicine, 1991;10(3):1-8.
  • 7 Patel VK, Wang J, Shen RN, Sharma HM, Brahmi Z. Reduction of metastases of Lewis lung carcinoma by an ayurvedic food supplement [MAK-4] in mice. Nutrition research, 1992;12:51-61.
  • 8 Bondy. SC, Hernadez. T.M, Matia. C. Antioxidant properties of two ayurvedic herbal preparations [MAK- 4and MAK-5]. Biochemical Archives, 1994;10:25-31.
  • 9 Niwa .Y. Effect of Maharshi-4 [MAK-4] and Maharshi- 5 [MAK-5] on inflammatory mediators- with special reference to their free radical scavenging effect. Indian journal of clinical practice, 1991;8(1):23-27.
  • 10 Niwa. Y.The importance of superoxide dismutase functioning and marked anti-oxidant activity demonstrated in Maharshi Amrit Kalash.International Symposium Ultrecht,The Netherlands 9 sept 1989 (Abstract).
  • 11 Dwivedi C, Sharma HM, Dobrowski S, Engineer N. F. Inhibitory effects of Maharshi-4 [MAK-4] and Maharshi-5 [MAK-5] on microsomal lipid peroxidation. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 1991;39(3)649-652.
  • 12 Tumour eligibility and response criteria for phase ï& ø studies. Brussels: EORTC Data Center Manual 1992.