Dr. Weeks’ Comment: I learned from a wise source (brother Nat!) that asparagus can help fight cancer. You will read below the note he sent me this morning, so being intrigued, I went to Pub Med (the national library of medicine and science) and searched the terms “asparagus” and “cancer” and am happy to report that first thing today, I learned something new! (“Live and learn” is good advice, we would all agree…)
So eat your asparagus (make it organic so it is not poisoned) and eat the rest of your magnesium and potassium rick green vegetables and remember to only pee with close friends…
Here is what my source shared with me and following that is some peer reviewed scientific articles showing that it works and suggesting a prescription drug be made out of asparagus…
“Back in 1986, I happened to mention to a friend (who was a retired biochemist from the USN) that I was taking a sailor to Homestead as he had a very bad kidney infection. This elderly gent told me that if the man had eaten more asparagus, he wouldn’t have that problem. I replied that I loved asparagus, but how would that help? He said urine stinks after eating asparagus because it is detoxifying one’s body of harmful chemicals. So, when my Mom was on chemo pills for Stage 3 lung cancer in the pleural area, I suggested that she eat asparagus. She pureed full-stalk canned asparagus and started taking 4 tablespoons in the morning and 4 tablespoons later in the day. In less than two month, her cancer cell count went from 386 down to 125. Her oncologist said she will not need to see him for 3 months. “Asparagus For Cancer” (printed in the Cancer News Journal, December 1979) reported that Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. had lots of favorable case histories including a man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise. Another report was of a successful businessman, 68 years old, who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he began taking asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal. On March 5th 1971, a man who had lung cancer was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. The following month, he heard about the Asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is now back at his regular business routine. A woman, troubled for a number of years with skin cancer was diagnosed by a specialist as now having Stage 3. Within 3 months after beginning asparagus therapy, the skin specialist said her skin looked fine with no more skin lesions. The asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which had started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. `The elements of materia medica’, edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania , stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. Place canned or cooked fresh asparagus, without pesticides or preservatives (such as Giant and Stokely) in a blender and liquefy to make a puree. Store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show some improvement in 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases. My wife and I add 2 tablespoons of asparagus puree in water as a beverage with our meals. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold. New results always show substantial improvements in all blood categories over the previous one. We attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink. As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about cancer. Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth, what I call ‘cell growth normalizers’. The US National Cancer Institute, reports that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body’s most potent anticarcinogens and antioxidants. In case you are wondering why this has not been made public, there is no profit in curing cancer…
THE CURRENT SCIENCE
Chem Biodivers. 2018 Nov;15(11):e1800282. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201800282. Epub 2018 Oct 26.
In Vitro Toxicity of Asparagus Saponins in Distinct Multidrug-Resistant Colon Cancer Cells.
Jaramillo-Carmona S1, Guillén-Bejarano R1, Jiménez-Araujo A1, Rodríguez-Arcos R1, López S2,3.A
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. Many efforts have focused on finding natural molecules with potential chemo-preventive activity due to their low toxicity compared to synthetic drugs. However, comprehensive information on the bioactive fractions and components is still missing. In this study, we developed a method for the quantitative separation and isolation of saponins from asparagus genotypes consisting of an adsorption chromatography and subsequent liquid chromatographic separation on a reversed-phase column. The saponins isolated were tested for their cytotoxic activity against human colon cancer cell lines, which could develop cross-resistance to a wide variety of chemotherapeutic drugs. Our results showed that Huétor-Tájar asparagus saponins (HTSAP), mainly protodioscin and HTSAP-10 have higher cytotoxic activity than HTSAP-1, HTSAP-6, and HTSAP-8. This study links the potential anticancer effect of asparagus to specific saponins and unveils the triguero Huétor-Tájar asparagus as a nutraceutical particularly in colon cancer therapies.
Pharmacogn Mag. 2018 Jan;13(Suppl 4):S890-S894. doi: 10.4103/pm.pm_136_17. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Cytotoxicity of Asparagus adscendensRoots against Human Cancer Cell Lines.
Khan KM1,2,3, Nahar L1, Mannan A2, Arfan M4, Khan GA5, Al-Groshi A1, Evans A1, Dempster NM1, Ismail FMD1, Sarker SD1.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Asparagus adscendens Roxb. (Asparagaceae), is native to the Himalayas. This plant has been used in the prevention and effective treatment of various forms of cancers.
OBJECTIVE:
This paper reports, for the first time, on the cytotoxicity of the methanol (MeOH) extract of the roots of A. adscendens and its solid-phase extraction (SPE) fractions against four human carcinoma cell lines and LC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis of the SPE fractions.
RESULTS:
The MeOH extract and four SPE fractions exhibited cytotoxicity against all cell lines with the IC50 values ranging from 6 to 79 μg/mL. As observed in other Asparagus species, the presence of saponins and sapogenins in the SPE fractions was evident in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data.
CONCLUSION:
It is reasonable to assume that the cytotoxicity of the MeOH extract of the roots of A. adscendens and its SPE fractions, at least partly, due to the presence of saponins and their aglycones. This suggests that A. adscendens could be exploited as a potential source of cytotoxic compounds with putative anticancer potential.
SUMMARY:
The MeOH extract and all solid-phase extraction (SPE) fractions exhibited various levels of cytotoxicity against all cell lines with the IC50 values ranging from 6 to 79 μg/mLThe presence of saponins and sapogenins in the SPE fractions was evident in the Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry dataDue to the presence of saponins and their aglycones, suggest that A. adscendens could be exploited as a potential source of cytotoxic compounds with putative anticancer potential.