GOOD NEWS ABOUT POMEGRANITES!
From Medical News today
US researchers found that pomegranates contain six natural compounds that may prevent the growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer by blocking the enzyme aromatase, which changes androgen to estrogen. However, experts caution this does not mean people should expect the same results from eating pomegranates, because this was an “in vitro” (test tube) study and results on the lab bench don’t always translate to animals and humans.
The study, which was published in the 1 January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, is the work of Dr Shiuan Chen, director of the Division of Tumor Cell Biology at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California and colleagues also from City of Hope and the Center for Human Nutrition at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles.
For the study, the researchers screened ten compounds in a group known as ellagitannins.
Chen and his team found that the compound with the strongest impact was urolithin B (UB), which appeared to inhibit multiple estrogen-producing mechanisms that fuel the growth of breast cancer.
They also found that UB prevented estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells from multiplying.
Chen told the press that:
“By suppressing the production of estrogen, urolithin B and other phytochemicals found in pomegranates can prevent hormone-responsive breast cancer tumors from growing.”
The other phytochemicals they found were urolithin A (UA), methylated UA, acetylated UB, methylated UB and UB sulfate: these also inhibited aromatase activity but to a lesser extent.
Other studies have found pomegranate juice is high in antioxidants and contains compounds that can control the growth of breast and prostate cancers humans, said the researchers.
Chen said the results of the study suggest that:
“Pomegranate intake may be a viable strategy for preventing breast cancer.”
Full article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175411.php