TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrative oncology in the Middle East
T2 - From traditional herbal knowledge to contemporary cancer care
AU - Ben-Arye, E.
AU - Schiff, E.
AU - Hassan, E.
AU - Mutafoglu, K.
AU - Lev-ari, S.
AU - Steiner, M.
AU - Lavie, O.
AU - Polliack, A.
AU - Silbermann, M.
AU - Lev, E.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Background: Based on traditional, historical, ethnobotanical, laboratory, and clinical findings, we present research framework aiming to identify Middle Eastern herbs that are worthy of further research for their anticancer potential. Methods: A comprehensive research project was developed by a multinational team comprising family physicians, medicine specialists, oncologists, an Islamic medicine history specialist, a traditional medicine ethnobotanist, and a basic research scientist. The project followed two consecutive phases: (i) historical and ethnobotanical search for cancer-related keywords and (ii) Medline search for in vitro and in vivo studies. Results: This search yielded 44 herbs associated with cancer care. The Medline search yielded 34 herbs of which 9 herbs were reported in various clinical studies. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary survey was found to be a valuable way to identify herbs with potential clinical significance in cancer care. Based on this pilot study, it is suggested that the Middle East can serve as a valuable region for future multicultural-oriented cancer research.
AB - Background: Based on traditional, historical, ethnobotanical, laboratory, and clinical findings, we present research framework aiming to identify Middle Eastern herbs that are worthy of further research for their anticancer potential. Methods: A comprehensive research project was developed by a multinational team comprising family physicians, medicine specialists, oncologists, an Islamic medicine history specialist, a traditional medicine ethnobotanist, and a basic research scientist. The project followed two consecutive phases: (i) historical and ethnobotanical search for cancer-related keywords and (ii) Medline search for in vitro and in vivo studies. Results: This search yielded 44 herbs associated with cancer care. The Medline search yielded 34 herbs of which 9 herbs were reported in various clinical studies. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary survey was found to be a valuable way to identify herbs with potential clinical significance in cancer care. Based on this pilot study, it is suggested that the Middle East can serve as a valuable region for future multicultural-oriented cancer research.
KW - Cancer
KW - Herbal medicine
KW - Islamic medicine
KW - Oncology
KW - Traditional medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855183973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/annonc/mdr054
DO - 10.1093/annonc/mdr054
M3 - Article
C2 - 21447617
AN - SCOPUS:84855183973
SN - 0923-7534
VL - 23
SP - 211
EP - 221
JO - Annals of Oncology
JF - Annals of Oncology
IS - 1
ER -
