Definition

An herbal mixture with potential antineoplastic effects. PC-SPES, an herbal supplement containing extracts from 8 herbs including Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ganoderma lucidum (a root fungus), Glycyrrhiza glabra (Spanish liquorice), Isatis indigotica, Panax pseudoginseng, Rabdosia rubescens, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Serona repens (saw palmetto), with potential antineoplastic and antiproliferative effects, specifically in prostate cancer cells. Its exact pharmacology is not fully understood due to the complexity of the herbal mixture and may involve multiple metabolic pathways. Exposure to PC-SPES in vitro has resulted in a decreased expression of genes encoding cell cycle regulatory proteins as well as an upregulation of genes that modulate apoptosis in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent cells. The PC in the acronym PC-SPES stands for Prostate Cancer, while SPES is the Latin word for hope.