Berries' May Effect Cancer Cells
Various studies over the years have focused on the health benefits of antioxidants found in blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, red raspberries, and strawberries. Now, the extracts from the same fruits are believed to have anti-cancer effects. Research, conducted by UCLA researchers, identified and evaluated the main phenolic constituents of the berries using advanced detection methods. The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. They were evaluated to see how able they were to inhibit the growth of human oral, breast, colon, and prostate tumor cell lines using a wide range of concentrations. As the berry extract increased in concentration, increased inhibition of cell proliferation in all cell lines were observed, with differing degrees of potency between cell lines. A different evaluation method showed that black raspberry and strawberry extracts had a significant effect against a colon cancer line. The data in this study and in past studies warrants further investigation into the anti-cancer effects of berries in test tube models. For more information go to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Volume 54, December 2006.
Various studies over the years have focused on the health benefits of antioxidants found in blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, red raspberries, and strawberries. Now, the extracts from the same fruits are believed to have anti-cancer effects. Research, conducted by UCLA researchers, identified and evaluated the main phenolic constituents of the berries using advanced detection methods. The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. They were evaluated to see how able they were to inhibit the growth of human oral, breast, colon, and prostate tumor cell lines using a wide range of concentrations. As the berry extract increased in concentration, increased inhibition of cell proliferation in all cell lines were observed, with differing degrees of potency between cell lines. A different evaluation method showed that black raspberry and strawberry extracts had a significant effect against a colon cancer line. The data in this study and in past studies warrants further investigation into the anti-cancer effects of berries in test tube models. For more information go to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Volume 54, December 2006.