NaturaLift MD Review Blog

Ginseng extract blocked carcinogens applied to the skin from causing skin cancer and inflammation. It inhibited the carcinogen TPA from causing an increase in the inflammation- and cancer-causing enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, and “…expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in TPA-stimulated mouse skin was markedly suppressed. In addition, “… ginseng extract inhibited TPA-stimulated activation of NF-kappaB and extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in skin and human breast epithelial cells.” Topical ginseng extract also prevented the potent carcinogen TPA from causing multiple skin tumors.

Borage Oil & Gamma Linolenic Acid

Doctors confirmed that the topical application of ginseng extract “… led to the inhibition of TPA-induced expression of COX-2 as well as reducing the production of
prostaglandin E-2. The eukaryotic transcription factor NF-kappaB has been involved in intra-cellular signaling pathways associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis.” The use of the ginseng extract caused “… inactivation of NF-kappaB.” Furthermore, “…when ginseng extract was applied topically prior to TPA, expression and activity of ODC were inhibited dose-dependently.” Ginseng extract also “… inhibited the activation of ERK. Additionally: “… the ginseng extract given prior to each topical dose of TPA markedly lowered the number of papillomas.”

Melanoma, usually appearing as an enlarging black mole, spreads rapidly throughout the body and is lethal. In laboratory tests, ginseng extract was documented to slow the growth of these malignant cells as well as causing their death.

Researchers tested to see if GLA would help the anti-breast cancer drug tamoxifen not only penetrate the skin of patients with breast cancer, but also continue deeper to penetrate into their tumors. Yes, it did: “… [i]t was determined that 2.5 molecules of GLA were associated with each molecule of tamoxifen in the permeation process.”

GLA has itself been shown to be an anti-cancer agent against human breast cancer. This has effects against both estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent cancer cells. At the beginning of this published article which appeared in a prominent cancer journal, these researchers stated as their basis for undertaking their 2004 study, whose positive outcome was just summarized above: “… [t]he omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) has raised recent interest as a novel anti-cancer agent as it possesses effective tumorcidal properties while not inducing damage to normal cells or creating harmful side effects.”