Bovine Cartilage Description
Bovine Cartilage -
Cartilage tissue
has been investigated as a treatment for cancer, psoriasis,
arthritis, and a number of other medical conditions. Most notably,
the tested cartilage material has come from cows and sharks. At
least some of the interest in cartilage as a cancer treatment arose
from the mistaken belief that sharks are made primarily of cartilage
and were not affected by the disease. In fact, malignant cancer does
occur in sharks. Still, anti-tumor activity has been detected in the
cartilage of both sharks and cows. The major structural components
of cartilage include several types of protein collagen and
glycosaminoglycans, or polysaccharides. Since some
glycosaminoglycans in cartilage tissue seem to have
anti-inflammatory and immune system stimulating properties, it has
been suggested that they may assist in the breakdown of tumor cells.
Thus, the anti-tumor potential of cartilage treatments may involve
more than one mechanism of action. Cartilage products are generally
in pill form and are sold commercially in the US as dietary
supplements under more than 40 different brand names.
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