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An Evidence-based Perspective of Hedyotis Diffusa or Oldenlandia Diffusa (Spreading Hedyotis) for Cancer Patients

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Evidence-based Anticancer Materia Medica

Abstract

Hedyotis diffusa or Oldenlandia diffusa (spreading hedyotis) is one of the most commonly used anticancer herbs. Its clinical use has a history more than several thousand years. It contains flavones, anthraquinones, polysaccharides, and other compounds possessing anticancer activities. In most cases, it is used together with other herbs. About 15% of the anticancer herbal formulas used in China contain this herb. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies have established the efficacy and safety of spreading hedyotis in treating various cancers including stomach cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, esophagus cancer, and leukemia. It can directly inhibit the growth of various cancer cells and induce apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. It shows selective cytotoxicity against cancerous cells. It can suppress some oncogenes and up-regulate anti-oncogenes. It also has immune modulation functions against cancer. It enhances the activities of natural killer cells and macrophages, promotes the proliferation of spleen cells, and up-regulates interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Clinical outcomes have demonstrated that it can enhance the efficacies and reduce the adverse effects (i.e. white blood cell decrease, nausea/vomit) by the conventional chemotherapies. It is also effective in relieving cancerous pain and fever. The commonly used clinical doses of 30–60 g/day usually do not cause any considerable adverse effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, 11439, Queens, NY, USA

    Jun Shao & Louis Trombetta

  2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Guoqing Gong

Authors
  1. Jun Shao
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  2. Guoqing Gong
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  3. Louis Trombetta
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Correspondence to Jun Shao .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gascoigne Road 30, Kowloon, Hong Kong/PR China

    William C.S. Cho

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Shao, J., Gong, G., Trombetta, L. (2011). An Evidence-based Perspective of Hedyotis Diffusa or Oldenlandia Diffusa (Spreading Hedyotis) for Cancer Patients. In: Cho, W. (eds) Evidence-based Anticancer Materia Medica. Evidence-based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0526-5_9

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