Pomegranate juice could be the next estrogen-responsive breast cancer treatment. A new lab study has demonstrated promising results when evaluating the use of pomegranate juice, a juice rich in antioxidants, as a way of fighting off and preventing breast cancer.
More than 75 percent of all breast cancer cases are fed by estrogen and there are over 400,000 women dieing annually, around the world, from breast cancer. Researchers with Ohio State University focused on the benefits of pomegranates in the breast cancer fight. The team discovered the large red fruit filled with juicy seeds naturally produces a chemical known as ellagic acid, which seems to help slow and even prevent the growth of cancer cells in breast tissue.
According to researchers, the pomegranate has recently been noted for its antioxidants and potential cancer fighting attributes, as well as its heart healthy benefits. However, the study recently published in Cancer Prevention Research is the first to take a look at the affects of the pomegranate on breast cancer and aromatase, an enzyme that plays a key role in making estrogen and promoting the growth of breast cancer.
In a lab, the team studied the effects of ten ellagitannin-derived compounds produced by pomegranates, which are thought to potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer. They considered the effects of the ten compounds on the growth of breast cancer cells and aromatase activity. Of the ten ellagitannin-derived compounds studied, the researchers discovered urolithin B was the standout in the fight against breast cancer.
Researchers have created a scale called the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity scale (ORAC) which measures the antioxidant level in fruits and vegetables. Dr. David Hnida, a CBS3 medical editor said, “The higher the number on the scale, the more antioxidants and disease-fighting chemicals in the food.” Researchers have measured antioxidant levels in over 200 different fruits and vegetables. Those at the top of the list include blueberries, plums, blackberries, raspberries, dark grapes, apples and strawberries.
While experts aren’t recommending substituting pomegranates for prescribed medicine yet, we may see the fruit being used in breast cancer treatment and prevention efforts eventually. Many experts in the cancer field see the test results as very promising. However, according to Powel Brown, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the clinical cancer prevention department at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the pomegranate and breast cancer study, “More research on the individual components and the combination of chemicals is needed to understand the potential risks and benefits of using pomegranate juice or isolated compounds for a health benefit or for cancer prevention.” In the meantime, women may want to add a daily pomegranate to their daily diet as an extra effort to ward off the leading form of cancer found in women.
