Ray Cooper
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Title: Chinese and botanical medicines: TCM needs TQM
Biography
Biography: Ray Cooper
Abstract
There is a need to improve and promote the scientific inquiry on the study and use of botanicals, natural products and Chinese medicine, in order to secure global acceptance. Although there is an enormous history of use of Chinese medicines a better understanding of these preparations and formulae within the scientific and international community is needed, and one approach is to include a total quality management program (TQM). The aim is to present case studies on selected botanicals and natural products to provide scientific data that could substantiate the health claims. One example is the inhibition of ENOX2 (tNOX), a molecular target to examine anticancer activity of green tea catechins. The relation between green tea catechins and cell protection through a cell surface protein, ENOX2 has been identified. When the ENOX2 of cells is inhibited, the cells fail to enlarge after division, cease to divide, and after a few days undergo apoptosis. To date, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea is the most effective polyphenol ENOX2 blocker found without any adverse effects on normal cells. Synergistic combinations of green tea concentrate and powdered capsicum reduces oxidative stress as an approach to elimination of malignant cells in both cancer (HeLa) and non-cancer (MCF-10A) cells. Some preliminary data on green tea and other examples of well-known botanical medicines described in Chinese folklore will be presented that reflect the need to incorporate TQM into TCM.