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August 10, 2005
Strawberries most effective at inducing cancer cell death
Topics: Nutrition and CancerPlants are proven sources of useful anti-tumor and chemopreventative compounds. Strawberries, for example, have high activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and strawberry extracts have demonstrated inhibition of proliferation in human a lung epithelial cancer cell line and decreased induced neoplastic transformation of mouse epidermal cells. Strawberries, like is the case with raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries, have been shown to induce apoptosis in numerous cancer cell lines.
However, according to a recent study conducted at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, Strawberries may be the most effective of the five most commonly consumed berries at inducing cancer cell death (programmed cell death - apoptosis).
The center recently tested extracts of six berries -- strawberries, raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries -- to determine their ability to induce apoptosis, a process that enhances the death of cancer cells.
In one phase of the study, all of the berry extracts exhibited anti-proliferative effects in a dose-dependent manner(which one would expect). However, the strongest strawberry effects were seen against two types of oral cancer cells and one type of colon cancer cells. A second phase of the experiment measured their ability to induce programmed cell death against a cyclooxygenase (COX)-II expressing enzyme colon cancer cell. The results showed that the berries were potent inducers of apoptosis in the human colon cancer cells.
Strawberries may be highly effective as a chemopreventive agent that acts by targeting the down-regulation of AP-1(activator protein-1) and NF-kappaB activities, blocking mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and suppressing cancer cell proliferation and transformation.
The hydrolyzable tannin-containing fraction from the 'Sweet Charlie' variety of strawberries has been shown to be the most effective at inhibiting mutations.
Antimutagenic activity of berry extracts.
Posted by Richard at August 10, 2005 12:20 PM
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