Aberrant or increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases including carcinogenesis. COX‐2 has been shown to be over‐expressed in some human cancers. Employing semi‐quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry we assessed COX‐2 expression in samples of pair‐matched benign and cancer tissue obtained from the same prostate cancer patient. Mean levels of COX‐2 mRNA were 3.4‐fold higher in prostate cancer tissue (n = 12) compared with the paired benign tissue. The immunoblot analysis demonstrated that as compared to benign tissue COX‐2 protein was over‐expressed in 10 of 12 samples examined. Immunohistochemical analysis also verified COX‐2 over‐expression in cancer than in benign tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study showing an over‐expression of COX‐2 in prostate cancer. These data suggest that COX‐2 inhibitors may be useful for prevention or therapy of prostate cancer in humans. Prostate 42:73–78, 2000.

Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. It is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family and is represented by two common varieties, German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). The dried flowers of chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, which contribute to its medicinal properties. Chamomile preparations are commonly used for many human ailments, including hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain and hemorrhoids. Essential oils of chamomile are used extensively in cosmetics and aromatherapy. Numerous preparations of chamomile have been developed, the most popular being in the form of herbal tea, of which more than one million cups are consumed every day. In this review, we describe the use of chamomile in traditional medicine with regard to evaluating its curative and preventive properties, and highlight recent findings that may contribute to its development as a therapeutic agent promoting human health.

Identification of common dietary substances capable of affording protection or modulating the onset and severity of arthritis may have important human health implications. An antioxidant-rich polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (green tea polyphenols, GTPs) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties in experimental animals. In this study we determined the effect of oral consumption of GTP on collagen-induced arthritis in mice. In three independent experiments mice given GTP in water exhibited significantly reduced incidence of arthritis (33% to 50%) as compared with mice not given GTP in water (84% to 100%). The arthritis index also was significantly lower in GTP-fed animals. Western blot analysis showed a marked reduction in the expression of inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase 2, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor α in arthritic joints of GTP-fed mice. Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of the arthritic joints in GTP-fed mice demonstrated only marginal joint infiltration by IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor α-producing cells as opposed to massive cellular infiltration and fully developed pannus in arthritic joints of non-GTP-fed mice. The neutral endopeptidase activity was approximately 7-fold higher in arthritic joints of non-GTP-fed mice in comparison to nonarthritic joints of unimmunized mice whereas it was only 2-fold higher in the arthritic joints of GTP-fed mice. Additionally, total IgG and type II collagen-specific IgG levels were lower in serum and arthritic joints of GTP-fed mice. Taken together our studies suggest that a polyphenolic fraction from green tea that is rich in antioxidants may be useful in the prevention of onset and severity of arthritis.