Can Lapacho cure the cancer ? - GetACoder

Can Lapacho cure the cancer ?
Lapacho (Tabebuia impetiginosa) also known as Pau d’Arco or Taheebo is a canopy tree
growing in the Amazonian rainforest and other parts of South America. This hard-wooded
plant, commonly used for carving and construction is hoped to be a miraculous cure for
cancers and tumors.
Tradition...
Lapacho inner bark is customary used in local medicine for bacterial and fungus infections,
malaria, fever, syphilis, stomach and bladder conditions, as well as inflammation of the
prostate gland (prostatitis), dysentery, boils and ulcers, pain and various cancers.
Biomedical uses of Lapacho were reported as early as in 1873. First, Pau d’Arco attracted
scientists attention in Brazil and Argentina after the news magazine O'Cruzeiro described
cases of wondrous cures in hospitalized cancer patients.
…..and science
The scientific interest in Lapacho begins in the 1960s when United States National Cancer
Institute started examining plant extracts originated from different geographical locations to
identify active anti-cancer compounds.
Two leading bioactive components have been identified: lapachol and beta-lapahone. Betalapahone
is believed to be the main anti-tumor compound. It has demonstrated promising
anti-cancer activity during phase I clinical trials and currently is undergoing numerous phase
II human clinical trials for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, and
leiomyosarcoma.
How it works?
Scientists from Simmons Cancer Centre (USA) have managed to work out the mechanism of
action of beta-lapachone.
Beta-lapachone interacts with an enzyme called NQO1. In healthy cells, NQO1 is either not
present or is expressed at low levels. In contrast, some cancer cells overexpress the
enzyme. When beta-lapachone interacts with NQO1, the tumor cell kills itself without
damaging healthy tissues. Beta-lapachone also disrupts the cancer cells ability to repair its
DNA leading to the cells decease.

Understanding how beta-lapachone works to selectively kill tumor cells creates a new hope
for patients suffering from resistant to chemotherapy cancers.
Other health benefits
Antibacterial activity
Chemical compounds of the inner bark of taheebo inhibit the growth of harmful to human
germs, as Clostridium paraputrificum – a bacteria of a digestive track that can cause
clostridial infection or Helibacter pyroli infecting the lining of the stomach and duodenum and
in some cases leading to ulcer.
In vitro studies also revealed anti-bacterial actions of lapacho extract against MRSA.
Antipsoriatic activity
Some lapacho-derived compounds appear to be promising as effective antipsoriatic agents
due to their activity against the growth of human skin cells - keratinocytes.
Anti-ageing
Certain volatiles compounds isolated from the dried inner bark of Tabebuia have displayed
antioxidant activity.
Obesity, diabetes and heart disease risk
Scientists have shown using rats as animal models, that extract from lapacho can block
dietary fat absorption, and thus reduce the risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and coronary
heart disease. This fact is associated with lapacho ability of reducing the levels of
triglycerides. A food-supplement based on Tabebuia could potentially decrease the incidence
of these diseases.
Pau d’Arco is also used for such conditions as: candidiasis, herpes simplex virus, influenza,
schistosomiasis and brucellosis, however the healing effects has not been confirmed by
clinical trials yet.
Dosage
Pau d'arco is sold as tablets, dried bark tea and tincture. Tea is not recommended as healing
compounds of lapacho do not dissolve well in water.
Generally, recommended dosage for an adult person is 300-500mg three times per day for
capsules and 0.5- 1 ml (1/8 – 1/4 tablespoon) for tincture.
Remember, always consult the dosage with your doctor !
Side effects

Detailed analysis revealed that Lapacho is generally safe for humans. In some rare cases it
may cause nausea, vomiting, anemia, bleeding and dizziness. The possibility of side effects
occurring is grater when the dose of lapachol overcome 1.5 g a day.
We still don’t have a complete scientific profile of Lapacho as potential diet supplement and
further clinical research is required. Also - the drugs available on the market are of various
composition and quality, so it is hard to determine if they contain a safe amount of these
active substances – please always read the label.
Drug interactions
Tabebuia may enhance the activity of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs (blood-thinners)
including Warfarin (Coumadin), Clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin.
Children
Children and infants should not be treated with lapacho.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding:
Due to lack of clinical evidence, consuming of lapacho-based food supplements during
pregnancy and breastfeeding should be avoided.