Betulinic acid, a major component of extracts from Inonotus obliquus grown on birch trees, exerted cytotoxic activity against primary tumour cells cultured from patients in 4 of 4 medulloblastoma-tumour samples and in 20 of 24 glioblastoma-tumour samples with induction of apoptosis, while being non-toxic against mouse nerve cells1-3.
Maitake D-fraction in combination with Maitake (Grifola frondosa) fruiting body was reported by Nanba to produce tumour regression or significant symptom improvement in 37% of brain cancer patients4.
REFERENCES
1. Betulinic acid: a new cytotoxic agent against malignant brain tumour cells. Fulda S, Jeremias I, Steiner HH, Pietsch T, Debatin KM. Int J Cancer. 1999;82(3):435–441.
2. Chemistry, biological activity, and chemotherapeutic potential of betulinic acid for the prevention and treatment of cancer and HIV infection. Cichewicz RH, Kouzi SA. Med Res Rev. 2004;24(1):90–114.
3. Betulinic acid, a natural compound with potent anticancer effects. Mullauer FB, Kessler JH, Medema JP. Anticancer Drugs. 2010;21(3):215–227.
4. Maitake D-fraction: healing and preventive potential for cancer. Nanba H. J Orthomol Med. 1997;12(1):43–49.