Researchers Explore Milk Thistle for Fighting Prostate Cancer

Researchers at the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina are investigating whether compounds in the herb milk thistle may be helpful in fighting prostate cancer.

"Milk thistle is known in German medicine to protect the liver, is used to protect against mushroom poising and alcohol poisoning from Octoberfest celebrations," said Dr. David Kroll, the lead researcher.

Kroll said that with a five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute, he is investigating "newly isolated compounds from milk thistle to determine whether we have on herbal medicine shelf a new treatment for prostate cancer by taking the best of those compounds and improving upon them."

Kroll currently is testing the compounds against prostate cancer cells in the lab, and if they show promise, they will subsequently be tested in animals.

Other Sources: Research Triangle Institute