Burdock Fruit: A Potent Natural Defense Against Colorectal Cancer
Burdock plant (Arctium lappa) is a pale green plant that is native to Northern Asia and Europe. It has large, wavy leaves and purple flowers. The plant gets its name from 'dock,' referring to its large leaves.
Many ancient users, particularly in Chinese herbal medicine, have been using its flowers, roots, seeds, and fruits as a treatment for many health-related issues. These parts have been used as teas or decoction to promote urination, facilitate bowel movement, increase sweating and to treat rheumatism, stomach ailments, gout, colds, and even cancer.
Burdocks’s fruit is collected when they are fully ripe. They are about 1/16 of an inch in diameter, brown and grey in color, and are wrinkled. According to a study conducted by a team from Wonkwang University in South Korea, the fruit of the Burdock plant can help inhibit the spread of colorectal cancer cells.
In an In vitro test conducted by the researchers, the fruit was found to have the ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis using extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways thereby leading to a lowered colorectal cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, the fruit can also prevent metastasis and inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activity, decreasing the invasion and migration of CT26 cells.
At the end of the study, the team concluded that burdock’s fruit can be used to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.
Results of this study have been published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
Other Health Benefits Of Burdock Plant
Better Respiratory Functions
Help Improve Kidney Function
Helps Detoxify The Liver
Has Antimicrobial Properties
Used For Skin Care
Studies also revealed that regular use of burdock is effective at treating dry skin and makes the skin healthier and clearer.
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