A new column will appear regularly in the AAS Journal, devoted to the description of apitherapy products. As Apitherapy has become more widely known and accepted, especially in Europe, South and Central America, and the near and far East, there is an increase in the number of formulations developed using products of the hive. Some of the products are for general use, such as for skin care, others are designed for specific conditions. Go to your local health food store, or the organic or natural product section in your supermarket and examine the products. You will often find toothpaste, soaps, shampoos, and creams, which use honey or propolis. In health food stores, as well as through the Web, you can buy various forms of pollen, propolis and royal jelly. Throughout the world, there are an increasing number of firms manufacturing products that are for general health and care, as well as for specific conditions.
For this issue, the Journal has received a review of an unusual product which uses propolis and essential oils, primarily developed to stimulate the immune system during and after chemotherapy for Cancer.
The Belgian laboratory of Api-Ar International has been working for more than 10 years on the synergic action between propolis and essential oils. From Api-Ar’s research, Oncocycle was born, a product that blends green propolis from Brazil with three essential oils. They possess stimulating properties for the immune system and have a complementary action on chemotherapy through their probable activity on apoptosis. Oncocycle constitutes a genuine support for people suffering from cancer, irrespective of its location, during and after administration of chemotherapy. It contains a number of anti-oxidant agents that counter the emergence of free radicals as well as it brings an important contribution of oligo-elements.
Some physiologic considerations:
The immune system is predisposed to form defences that will protect our body against attacking elements, foreign organisms and toxins that are present in the atmosphere. A natural product (this is sort of weird phrasing), by virtue of the essential oils and propolis it contains, strengthens the immune system in its daily fight to preserve our health.
The immune system works in close cooperation with the brain, the ganglions, the glands, the skin, hormones, bone marrow, mucous membranes, the liver, tears, sweat, fat and even the hairs of various parts of the body, obviously along with the white blood cells which are the main defenders of our body.
This system is activated whenever an unknown element such as bacteria, a virus, a parasite, a fungus, poison or another environmental toxic substance comes into contact with the organism and triggers a chain of reactions, in which the cells of our defence system (lymphocytes and macrophages) multiply in the blood and form the antibodies specific to each illness. When the organism is weakened, this process of natural defence no longer responds in an efficient manner, which is what causes the appearance of disease.
Another fundamental function of our immune system is to regulate the natural process necessary for the replacement of old cells by new cells, a natural phenomenon known by the name “apoptosis”. In malignancies for example, this natural process is altered. The malignant cells continue to reproduce in an uncontrolled fashion, by winning over the surrounding tissue (metastases is this term used other than for cancer). The recent studies into the fight against cancer are above all intended to support this natural process of cell death.
Composition of Oncocycle
1) Green propolis from Brazil:
Over the past two decades, this propolis, obtained from the plant Baccharis dancuncufolia, of Brazilian origin, has been studied for its anticarcinogenic properties. In the formulation created by Api-Ar International, the green propolis was treated to obtain a concentration of its active matter up to 20 times higher than that of natural propolis. In addition to its strong antioxidant action, the green propolis contains components with anticarcinogenic action, which is scientifically proven. Artepillin-C, caffeic acid and a phenethyl ester (CAPE) are responsible for the cytotoxic, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory action. Flavonoids, pinocembrin, galangin, benzoic acid and erclerodane diterpenoid have a strong anti-microbial action. A study carried out by a team of Zagreb scientists has shown that the propolis proves more effective than “Epirubicin”, a product commonly used in chemotherapy. A further Japanese study obtained results relative to the volume of tumors, and showed that propolis in association with Mitomycin or 5-FU (two chemotherapeutic agents), enables significant reduction in growth of tumors after 3 weeks of treatment.
2) A cocktail of essential oils:
The essential oil Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia cineolifera) stimulates the defenses in general. Its principal components, a terpene oxide, along with monoterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols reduce predisposition to the conditions likely to produce cancer.
The essential oil of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a powerful digestive and hepatobiliary tonic thanks to its main component: ether methyl chavicol. This is generally an excellent stimulant for the organism’s natural defences.
The essential oil of Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) notably contains phenol eugenol, an alcohol with antibacterial and digestive stimulation activity, enabling the expulsion of toxins. It fights favorably against the spasms that may be caused by successive chemotherapy treatments.
To complete the information Oncocycle, is available on the Web at Api-Ar International, SA, on the site www. Api-ar.com
It is recommended for pathologies where the immune system is weakened, notably with patients following radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments. In preventive treatment or in prophylaxis, Oncocycle may help to reduce the size of tumors and retard the development of possible metastases.
Cited by Liena Hernandez-Horizondo PhD. Pharmacist
