Chaparral cannot treat or cure cancer or any other medical condition.
Chaparral is a plant that grows in the desert regions of Mexico and the southwest United States with a long medicinal history. It has been used by Native Americans to treat skin sores, inflammatory disorders, rheumatism, diabetes, tuberculosis, colds, venereal disease and cancer. Chaparral tea has been employed for the treatment of kidney and gallbladder stones.
A clinical trial found chaparral to be ineffective as an anticancer agent.
The active compound of chaparral, known as Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), has been shown to have antiviral, anticancer, antiparasitic effects in laboratory experiments and animal models.
Because several patients who regularly drank chaparral tea developed kidney cysts, kidney cancer, and liver damage, chaparral products are not recommended. The FDA removed NDGA, formerly employed as a food additive in low concentrations, from its “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) substances list. Also, Masoprocol, a topical cream containing NDGA, was developed for the treatment of actinic keratoses, but it was withdrawn from the U.S. market in June 1996.
Chaparral is an ingredient in black salve, which is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment.
Purported Uses
No scientific evidence supports the use of chaparral for any of the following uses:
To treat arthritis
To treat bronchitis and the common cold
To prevent and treat cancer
To reduce inflammation
To alleviate menstrual cramps
To promote urination
To stop muscle spasms
Patient Warnings
Chaparral and products containing chaparral have been associated with severe liver damage, in some cases requiring liver transplantation.
Side Effects
Fatigue
Contact dermatitis
Stomach upset
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Liver damage
Cirrhosis of the liver
Acute hepatitis
Kidney failure
Scientific Name
Larrea tridentate, Larrea divaricata
Clinical Summary
Chaparral is a plant prevalent in the desert regions of Mexico and the southwest United States with a long medicinal history. Native Americans used extracts and preparations from this plant to treat skin sores, diabetes, cancer, venereal disease, tuberculosis, colds, and rheumatism. The aqueous extract, known as chaparral tea, has been employed for the treatment of kidney and gallbladder stones.
A phase II clinical trial found chaparral to be ineffective as an anticancer agent (9). In another small retrospective study, low intake of chaparral tincture (<10%) did not cause adverse effects (3), but the association between length of exposure and risk is not known;
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), the active compound isolated from chaparral, has been investigated for its biological effects. In preclinical studies, it demonstrated antioxidant (12), anticancer (2)(13)(19)(20), antiviral (21), anti-parastitic (22), neuroprotective (14) and renoprotective (15) properties; and had a protective effect against diet-induced metabolic function (23). A pilot study in patients with relapsed prostate cancer reported NDGA to be reasonably well tolerated and to affect increases in PSA doubling time, but was found to be associated with transaminitis in some patients (16).
Several cases of reversible and irreversible liver damage (4)(7)(8)(17) have been associated with chaparral and products containing chaparral. NDGA, formerly employed as a food additive in low concentrations, has been removed by the FDA from its “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) substances list (1). Also, Masoprocol, a topical cream containing NDGA, was developed for the treatment of actinic keratoses, but withdrawn from the U.S. market in June 1996 (18).
Chaparral is an ingredient in black salve, which is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment.
Purported Uses
Arthritis
Bronchitis
Cancer prevention
Cancer treatment
Common cold
Inflammation
Menstrual cramps
Promote urination
Spasms
Mechanism of Action
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase inhibitor, may be responsible for the biological activity of chaparral. It is believed that NDGA may have anticancer activity by blocking cellular respiration in vitro (2). Additional studies have shown that NDGA inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 cells that overexpress HER 2 (MCF-7/HER2-18), and had additive effects when combined with tamoxifen (13).
In murine models, NDGA exerted neuroprotective effect against ischemic/reperfusion injury mediated via suppression of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) pathway (14); and ameliorates potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity (15).
Warnings
Chaparral and products containing chaparral have been associated with severe hepatotoxicity, with some cases requiring liver transplantation (4)(7)(8).