2016 – Biobran

Arabinoxylan rice bran (Biobran) suppresses the viremia level in patients with chronic HCV infection: A randomized trial

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:13:00 +0000

Current treatments for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have severe side effects and are very expensive. There is a need to explore effective natural therapies against HCV that are less toxic and more cost-effective. In the current study, 37 chronic HCV patients were randomized into two groups and treated with either pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) plus ribavirin (n = 21) or Biobran, an arabinoxylan from rice bran (1 g/day) (n = 16). We examined viremia, liver enzymes, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in serum, and toxicity before and three months after treatment. Both groups showed a significant and similar reduction in viral load after three months of treatment relative to the baseline viral load (P <0.05). In addition, treatment with Biobran resulted in a significant increase in the level of IFN-γ (P <0.001). Patients in the PEG IFN plus ribavirin group showed fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and easy fatigue. Patients in the Biobran group showed no side effects and reported good health. We conclude that Biobran is a potential novel therapeutic regimen that has a similar effect to PEG IFN plus ribavirin and is safe and cost-effective in the treatment of chronic HCV. Our finding of Biobran’s efficacy against HCV infection warrants further investigation in multiple clinical trials (Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02690103).

Controlled pilot study for cancer patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome due to chemotherapy treated with BioBran (MGN-3- Arabinoxylane) and targeted radiofrequency heat therapy

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:09:00 +0000

Introduction: Although modern therapies for cancer have improved life expectancy, the management of disease and improvement of quality of life (QoL) of patients, especially managing cancer-related pain and chronic fatigue syndrome are still limited. We demonstrate the efficacy of a combined therapy to treat cancer patients suffering from CFS. The effects of a combined therapy in cancer patients suffering from CFS was evaluated. NK cells were stimulated, additional tumour treatment together with targeted radiofrequency therapy (Oncothermia).

Methods: SIXTY patients with CFS (due to suffering from any type of cancer) were recruited, (according to the Centres for Disease Control 1994 criteria) attending an outpatient specialist CFS service for controlled pilot study. A total of 25 participants were given oral BioBran (MGN-3-Arabinoxylane), + Oncothermia, for six months, equivalent control group has not received this complex (BioBran + Oncothermia) treatment, they received chemo-,radiotherapy treatment.

Results: The whole body pH status showed strong tissue acidity before the treatment, but the BioBran group changed the tissue pH status. The most important finding was that the average of CFQ score was significantly reduced after the treatment, and in control group the CFQ scores did not change significantly.

Conclusion: The findings support a specific therapeutic effect of the complex BioBran+ Oncothermia therapy in CFS of cancer patients improving their QoL, enhancing NK activity in synergy.

Modified rice bran hemicellulose inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in vitro via VEGFR2 and its downstream signaling pathways

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:07:00 +0000

Angiogenesis is implicated in diverse pathological conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, and retinal neovascularization. In the present study, we investigated the effects of modified rice bran hemicellulose (MRBH), a water-soluble hemicellulose preparation from rice bran treated with shiitake enzymes, on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis in vitro and its mechanism. We found that MRBH significantly inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co-cultured with human dermal fibroblasts. We also observed that MRBH dose-dependently suppressed the VEGF-induced proliferation and migration of HUVECs. Furthermore, examination of the anti-angiogenic mechanism indicated that MRBH reduced not only VEGF-induced activation of VEGF receptor 2 but also of the downstream signaling proteins Akt, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These findings suggest that MRBH has in vitro anti-angiogenic effects that are partially mediated through the inhibition of VEGF signaling. Key words: angiogenesis, modified rice bran hemicellulose, VEGF, inhibition, signaling pathway

From Bench to Bedside: The Growing use of Arabinoxylan Rice Bran (MGN-3 /Biobran) in Cancer Immunotherapy

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:05:00 +0000

MGN-3/Biobran is a denatured hemicellulose obtained by reacting rice bran hemicellulose with multiple carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes from Shiitake mushrooms. Over the last 24 years, our fundamental research objective has been to study the biotherpeutic activity of MGN-3 as a treatment for cancer based on its ability to activate the immune system. This objective has been pursued in vitro, and in animal and human studies. This review is focused on the immunomodulatory effects of MGN-3 and on its potential as an anticancer agent. In vitro studies showed that culturing different human and murine cancer cell lines with MGN-3 resulted in a reduction of the survival rate of cancer cells. In vivo studies have also shown that MGN-3 induces tumor regression in several models of animal bearing tumor, including gastric cancer, neuroblastoma, and Ehrlich carcinoma. In addition, the anti-cancer activity of MGN-3 has been shown in human clinical trials and in several case reports on patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and progressive and partially metastasized cancer. Patients that were treated with MGN-3 in addition to Conventional Therapy (CT), as compared with CT alone, showed: 1) less recurrence of cancer, 2) higher survival rate and 3) improved Quality of Life (QOL) as characterized by improvements in physical activity, appetite, sleep, and digestion, and a decrease in pain and anxiety. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical research on MGN-3/Biobran since it was frst patented in 1992. Various animal studies and human clinical trials including different types of malignancies have demonstrated that MGN-3 is a potent Biological Response Modifer (BRM). MGN-3 enhances the cytotoxic reactivity of immune cells with anti-cancer activity such as NK and CD8+ T cells via increasing cell granularity, stimulates the production of interferons, IL-2 and IL-12, and functions as a natural adjuvant for Dendritic Cells (DC). Therefore, MGN-3 may be used in DC-based vaccine strategies against infections and cancer. Importantly, MGN-3 is a unique BRM because it is a safe non-toxic agent and does not exhibit hyporesponsiveness. MGN-3 has the potential to be a novel and promising immune modulatory adjuvant that could complement the existing immunotherapeutic modalities for cancer patients.