Fruits that help kill prostate cancer cells

Compounds in apple peel may stop the growth of prostate cancer cells when combined with compounds from red grapes or turmeric.

Grapes, turmeric and apples may help prevent and treat one of the most common cancers in the US, prostate cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers have identified several natural compounds that have the potential to “starve” prostate cancer tumors and shrink them. Compounds found in turmeric, red grapes, and apple peel appear to be the most powerful, especially when combined.

Study co-author Stefano Tiziani, of the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dell Pediatric Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the journal Precision Oncology.

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 161,360 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed this year and about 26,730 men will die from the disease.

Previous studies have identified several compounds, particularly those found in plant-based foods, that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

In this latest study, Tiziani and colleagues used a new screening technique to test 142 natural compounds in an attempt to identify those most effective at stopping the growth of prostate cancer cells.

The compounds were tested on prostate cancer cells of mouse and human origin individually and in combination.

The team identified three compounds that were most effective in stopping prostate cancer cell growth:

• Curcumin, the bright yellow compound in turmeric

• Ursolic acid, found in apple peel

• Resveratrol, found in red grapes and berries

These three compounds were then tested in mouse models of prostate cancer.

Researchers found that when ursolic acid was combined with curcumin or resveratrol, the natural compounds prevented the uptake of glutamine by prostate cancer cells, preventing tumor growth in mice.

Glutamine is an amino acid that prostate cancer cells need to grow, so preventing its uptake will “starve” the cancer cells to death.

Furthermore, since ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol are natural compounds, they did not cause any toxic effects in mice.

However, the researchers note that the concentrations of each of the three compounds were higher than those typically consumed through diet. Still, the team believes the findings show promise for a natural strategy to prevent and treat prostate cancer.

According to VNN