What is the point in common between turmeric, apples and grapes? According to a new study, these three foods could be the key to preventing and treating one of the most common cancers in the United States.
Researchers have identified a number of natural compounds that have the potential to kill prostate cancer tumors and reduce their spread. The compounds found in turmeric, red grapes and apple peels seem to have a powerful effect, especially when combined!
Prostate cancer: towards natural alternatives for prevention and
treatment?
Study co-author Stefano Tiziani of the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Dell Pediatric Research Institute at the University of Texas in Austin and his colleagues recently published the results of their study in the journal Precision Oncology .
After cancer of the skin, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society , there will be 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed this year, and about 26,730 cases of death from this disease.
Previous studies have identified certain compounds, particularly in plant-based foods, that have the potential to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
For this new study, Tiziani and his colleagues used a new screening technique to test 142 natural compounds, with the goal of identifying those that are more effective at stopping the growth of prostate cancer cells.
A combination of purely natural compounds inhibits tumor growth in mice
The compounds were tested on prostate cancer cells in mice and humans, individually and in combination.
The team identified three compounds that were most effective in stopping the growth of prostate cancer cells:
- Curcumin: a compound of turmeric
- Ursolic acid: present in the skin of apple
- Resveratrol: a compound of red grapes
These three compounds were then tested in mice with prostate cancer.
The researchers found that when ursolic acid was combined with curcumin or resveratrol, the natural compounds prevented the absorption of glutamine (an amino acid that prostate cancer cells need to develop) through the cells.
prostate cancer, which prevented tumor growth in mice.
In addition, because ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol are natural
compounds, they did not have side effects in mice.
However, the researchers note that the concentrations of each of the three
compounds were higher than those normally consumed. Still, the team
believes that the results are promising for a natural and powerful strategy to prevent or even treat prostate cancer.