Nerium Oleander Extract

This product is intended solely as a food supplement to enhance general health, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing listed here should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a given problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance on specific health problems.

Sutherlandia OPC extract is made up of a patented and proprietary mixture of two herbal extracts which, in combination, have powerful immuno-modulatory and cytotoxic effects.

 
Topics in this section:
Sutherlandia Frutescens Sutherlandia Research
Nerium Oleander Toxicity Studies
Conclusion Possible Adverse Effects
Usage  
 
Sutherlandia Frutescens
Sutherlandia Frutescens, or “cancer bush” as it is known by the indigenous people of Southern Africa, has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Its popularity has been publicly acknowledged by its appearance on a South African postage stamp.
It has powerful immune boosting properties and has been classified as an adaptogen. (An adaptogen is an herbal substance or “tonic” that helps the body to adapt to environmental and internal stress by changing body metabolism.)
Sutherlandia is a flowering shrub of the pea family that grows up to 1.2m high and is found in its natural state only in the drier areas of the Western and Northern Cape provinces of Southern Africa

The use of medicinal preparations from the leaves has been recorded for the following conditions:
Anxiety Arthritis
Asthma Backache
Blood Cleansing Cancer
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Depression
Diabetes (type 2) Edema
Fever Gastric Ailments
Heartburn Hot Flushes
Hypertension Influenza
ME Peptic Ulcer
Rheumatism Rheumatoid Arthritis
Viral Hepatitis Wasting from cancer, TB and AIDS
 
It has also been used as an appetite stimulant for people wasted by disease though it does not stimulate the appetite of healthy people.
Research has shown that the active ingredients in Sutherlandia consist of a mixture of L-canavanine (an amino acid with documented anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action), pinitol (used in clinical settings to treat the wasting syndrome associated with cancer, TB and AIDS), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA – an inhibitory neurotransmitter that produces a sense of well-being), L-arginine (an antiviral agent), saponins and gamma sitosterol. Although the exact mechanism by which improvement of ailments is brought about is still relatively unknown, studies have shown the Sutherlandia could help diabetics by inhibiting inflammation and by its improvement of hyperglycemia. It has also been shown that the herb can positively affect the secretory function of the pancreas.

Apart from the papers mentioned below, a number of promising projects are presently being undertaken by various research institutions to test the efficacy of Sutherlandia Frutescens. It is a medical herb with a long history and well-documented research.

 
Sutherlandia Research
Chinkwo KA. – Sutherlandia frutescens extracts can induce apoptosis in cultured carcinoma cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr 8;98(1-2):163-70.
Fernandes AC, Cromarty AD, Albrecht C, van Rensburg CE. – The antioxidant potential of Sutherlandia frutescens. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Nov;95(1):1-5.
Harnett SM, Oosthuizen V, van de Venter M.- Anti-HIV activities of organic and aqueous extracts of Sutherlandia frutescens and Lobostemontrigonus. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;96(1-2):113-9.
Ojewole JA. – Analgesic, antiinflammatory and hypoglycemic effects of Sutherlandia frutescens R. BR. (variety Incana E. MEY.) [Fabaceae] shoot aqueous extract. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2004 Jul-Aug;26(6): 409-16
Tai J, Cheung S, Chan E, Hasman D. – In vitro culture studies of Sutherlandia frutescens on human tumor cell lines. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jul;93(1):9-19.
 
Nerium Oleander
Oleander has been used for medical purposes for more than 2000 years. In biblical times it was known as the “desert rose”.
In Turkey, it has been used as a folk remedy for centuries.
During the 1960s, a Turkish doctor, Huseyin Ozel, saw that people using the remedy were mostly free of cancer and other serious diseases. He knew about the poisonous nature of the plant but soon discovered how to prepare the extract used as folk medicine. As head of the surgical department of the Mugla State Hospital in Turkey, he started experimenting with the extract and subsequently successfully used it as a treatment for cancer for more than 35 years. At the request of his son, Dr Ozel patented an aqueous extract of Nerium Oleander as ANVIRZEL. (US Patent #5,135,745) The Nerium Oleander extract used in the Sutherlandia OPC proprietary herbal mix is similar to the ANVIRZEL extract and the following excerpt is taken from the description of ANVIRZEL on the Internet: (the oral form of ANVIRZEL and Oleander Extract are the same)
Extensive laboratory and clinical experience indicate both cytotoxic and immunological activities for the drug. In developing a protocol for clinical trials, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center states, “It is thought that the polysaccharides present in Oleander Extract are capable of activating the immune cells, which in turn can recognize the epitopes present on the cancer cell surfaces, thereby enhancing the efficacy of the immune response. It is believed that the cytotoxic action present in the extract may be essential for synergistic activities. It is believed that the cytotoxic action both arrests tumor growth and prevents cancer cell reproduction as well as having and/or producing a Tumor Necrosis Factorlike activity. Research has proved conclusively that Oleander extract is active on dual pathways at the cellular level to both inhibit the growth of tumor cells (through the antiangiogenesis activity of the oleandrin) and to promote apoptosis of the tumor cells.

Extensive in vitro research has been conducted by Dr. Robert Newman, Chief of Pharmacology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), Houston, Texas. Dr. Newman has tested Oleander Extract against a broad spectrum of human malignant cell lines, and has demonstrated that Oleander Extract has a high order of efficacy.

In addition to the research being conducted by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, concurrent research is being conducted by Dr. Wendell Winters, a noted immunologist with the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio,Texas. Dr. Winter’s work has confirmed that Oleander Extract has been “shown to stimulate the immune system by stimulation of the function and capability of specific subsets of mononuclear cells.” In addition, Dr. Winters’ research has shown that Oleander Extract specifically stimulates T and B lymphocytes, the cell-mediated and the humoral mediated immune systems.

In April 2000, a USFDA approved study entitled “Phase I Study of ANVIRZEL in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors” was commenced under the direction of Ronald Buckowski, M.D. at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Because of its strong cytotoxic effect in combination with an equally strong immunomodulatory effect, Oleander Extract is indicated as a therapy, both primary and adjuvant, for cell proliferative disease (cancer), certain viral disease, and autoimmune/inflammatory disease. Clinical application of Oleander Extract in the United States, Ireland, and Honduras has demonstrated efficacy against various neoplastic disease, hepatic disease such as Hepatitis C, late and early stage HIV/AIDS, as well as autoimmune/inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The results have been determined both by the clinical practitioner and independent laboratory analysis using PET, CT scan, MRI, and hematological screening.

Using Oleander Extract Therapy, international clinicians have been treating patients suffering from the above referenced disorders on a compassionate use basis since 1997. Many of these patients were previously diagnosed as terminal. These clinicians have experienced a very high level of success with disease stabilization, partial remission, and complete remission, almost always accompanied by a very marked improvement in the patients’ quality of life.

Dr. Anibal Villatoro of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Former Executive Director of the Honduran Institute of Social Security (administrator of the public health system) has since January of 1999 been conducting a compassionate use trial with Oleander Extract for HIV (SIDA) patients in Tegucigalpa. His early results indicate a strong level of response to Oleander Extract therapy with a feeling of homeostasis (feeling of well being) and an improved quality of life, as well as significant improvement in their immune systems. (Reports that slipped out in late 1999 showed that Oleander Extract reversed AIDS, no matter what the phase of the disease, arthritis, psoriasis, hepatitis C, and even diabetes in some cases. Initially, Oleander Extract was thought to work only on cancers found early, however, very positive results have been found in people given just weeks to live. To top this all off, Oleander Extract seems to be the first cancer remedy to show positive results for leiomyosarcoma, probably the deadliest of cancers. Oleander extract also crosses the blood-brain barrier (like Poly-MVA) and gives hope to people with brain tumors.)

The “Common Thread” running through almost all of the clinical records of the patient population using Oleander Extract on a compassionate use basis has been the marked improvement in the “quality of life” of those patients. This includes, but is not limited to, homeostasis, marked improvement in pain management with elimination of or marked reduction in use of analgesics, positive response to antibiotics, increased appetite with concomitant weight gain, and increase in energy with reduction of fatigue.

 
Toxicity Studies
Sutherlandia Frutescens
There have been no reported adverse effects of the herb. A safety study, funded by the South African Medical Council, was conducted over a period of 3 months using 16 vervet monkeys. Behaviour of the animals was monitored and blood tests as well as various physiological evaluations were normal. No toxicity was found even at large dosages.
Nerium Oleander
A toxicity study was performed by Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL, on 28 beagle dogs, and the study states, “No clinical signs of toxicity were noted in any of the dogs in this study…” Another lethality assessment of ANVIRZELTM in a murine (laboratory mouse) population was conducted by Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX., and the study states, “On the day of NOI (Nerium Oleander Extract Injectible) administration and over a subsequent 14 day post dose period, none of the treated animals showed any pathological signs or ill effect of the injections as assessed by daily morbidity and mortality observations.”

No reports of toxicity have been received from clinicians supervising patients experiencing Oleander Extract Therapy.

 
Conclusion
The herbal components that make up the Sutherlandia OPC mixture are individually both effective traditional remedies. The proprietary mix combines their known effects and the following people may obtain beneficial results from the product:
People with an impaired or suppressed immune system from any cause
People with a high occurrence of infectious diseases, including colds and flu
People with allergies or skin conditions, including skin cancer
People with various types of cancer
People undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation
People over the age of 40 when the immune system starts to slow down due to the natural aging process
People affected by extra free radical production from external sources such as UV radiation, electromagnetic fields, poor nutritional habits and toxic chemicals
People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic inflammation and chronic fatigue
Professional and amateur athletes, or anyone who works out intensively
People under severe physical or emotional stress
People with arteriosclerosis. Sutherlandia OPC helps draw extra cholesterol from the blood, thus preventing further plaque formation on the arterial walls
People with autoimmune diseases. Sutherlandia OPC helps the system to maintain homeostasis
People with HIV/AIDS
 
Possible Adverse Effects
Possible side effects from this herbal mix when used as a dietary supplement may be slight nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, pruritus, pain at a tumour site, tachycardia and arrhythmias. Because of its blood-thinning properties, people on medical blood-thinning preparations should consult their doctors before using the OPC. People on heart-active drugs, such as digoxin (Lanoxin®) or anti-arrhythmics should also speak to their doctors before using the mixture. No other drug interactions have been reported. Pregnant women should preferably not use the mixture due to its anti-angiogenesis effect. Other short term detoxification symptoms like a slight rash, runny nose, pimples, slightly painful joints, etc, may be experienced. The Sutherlandia in the mixture may cause a slight dryness in the mouth.
 
Usage
5ml (1 teaspoon) or 1 capsule three times per day with meals
(total of 15ml or 3 capsules per day).
The capsules contain the identical active ingredients as the liquid.