The UF study demonstrates that research on foods not commonly consumed in the United States is important, because it may lead to unexpected discoveries, said Joshua Bomser, an assistant professor of Molecular Nutrition and Functional Foods at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
But familiar produce items have plenty of health-giving qualities, he said.
“Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer,” said Bomser, who researches the effects of diet on chronic diseases. “Getting at least five servings a day of these items is still a good recommendation for promoting optimal health.”
Berry Extracts Stop Cancer Cell Growth in the Lab
Antioxidant-rich extracts from a wide range of berries, including blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, could inhibit cell growth and spread for a wide range of cancers, researchers from UCLA have reported.
The researchers, led by Navinda Seeram from UCLA's Center for Human Nutrition, characterized the phenolic content of six berries and tested their ability to inhibit the growth of human oral, prostate, breast and colon cell lines.
"Our studies provide preliminary data as to the ability of these compounds to inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of different human cancer cells lines in vitro," wrote Seeram in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The scientists used high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) to evaluate the phenolic content of red and black raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.
They report that the main phenolic constituents were found to be anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, ellagitannins, galltannins, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. Each berry had a different and unique phenolic content.
Seeram and colleagues then tested the extracts for anti-cancer potential for a range of human cancer cell lines. Concentrations of berry extracts from 25 to 200 microlitres per millilitre were tested for their ability to stop the spread and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) of human oral (KB, CAL-27), prostate (LNCaP), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29, HCT116) cell lines.
"It is noteworthy that the test concentrations of the berry extracts used in these cell culture experiments far exceed levels of phenolics and/or their metabolites achievable physiologically, based on current knowledge of polyphenol bioavailability," said the researchers. Because extrapolations cannot be made between cell culture studies to humans, future animal and human studies should be designed to investigate the potential of berries for the prevention… of chronic human diseases such as cancer," they concluded.
Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Filed under Research, Health, Sciences, Agriculture on Thursday, January 12, 2006.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that
destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the
first to investigate the fruit’s purported benefits.
Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed
extracts from acai (ah-SAH’-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86
percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“Acai berries are already considered one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants,”
Talcott said. “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain
from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries.”
He cautioned that the study, funded by UF sources, was not intended to show whether
compounds found in acai berries could prevent leukemia in people.
“This was only a cell-culture model and we don’t want to give anyone false hope,” Talcott
said. “We are encouraged by the findings, however. Compounds that show good activity
against cancer cells in a model system are most likely to have beneficial effects in our
bodies.”
Other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes, contain antioxidants shown to kill
cancer cells in similar studies, he said. Experts are uncertain how much effect
antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body, because factors such as nutrient
absorption, metabolism and the influence of other biochemical processes may influence
the antioxidants’ chemical activity.
Another UF study, slated to conclude in 2006, will investigate the effects of acai’s
antioxidants on healthy human subjects, Talcott said. The study will determine how well
the compounds are absorbed into the blood, and how they may affect blood pressure,
cholesterol levels and related health indicators. So far, only fundamental research has
been done on acai berries, which contain at least 50 to 75 as-yet unidentified
compounds.
“One reason so little is known about acai berries is that they’re perishable and are
traditionally used immediately after picking,” he said. “Products made with processed
acai berries have only been available for about five years, so researchers in many parts
of the world have had little or no opportunity to study them.”
Talcott said UF is one of the first institutions outside Brazil with personnel studying acai
berries. Besides Talcott, UF’s acai research team includes Susan Percival, a professor
with the food science and human nutrition department, David Del Pozo-Insfran, a
doctoral student with the department and Susanne Mertens-Talcott, a postdoctoral
associate with the pharmaceutics department of UF’s College of Pharmacy.
Acai berries are produced by a palm tree known scientifically as Euterpe oleracea,
common in floodplain areas of the Amazon River, Talcott said. When ripe, the berries
are dark purple and about the size of a blueberry. They contain a thin layer of edible pulp
surrounding a large seed.
Historically, Brazilians have used acai berries to treat digestive disorders and skin
conditions, he said. Current marketing efforts by retail merchants and Internet
businesses suggest acai products can help consumers lose weight, lower cholesterol
and gain energy.
“A lot of claims are being made, but most of them haven’t been tested scientifically,”
Talcott said. “We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the acai berry and
its health-promoting effects.”
In the current UF study, six different chemical extracts were made from acai fruit pulp,
and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations.
Four of the extracts were shown to kill significant numbers of leukemia cells when
applied for 24 hours. Depending on the extract and concentration, anywhere from about
35 percent to 86 percent of the cells died.
The UF study demonstrates that research on foods not commonly consumed in the
United States is important, because it may lead to unexpected discoveries, said Joshua
Bomser, an assistant professor of molecular nutrition and functional foods at The Ohio
State University in Columbus, Ohio.
But familiar produce items have plenty of health-giving qualities, he said.
“Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for
many diseases, including heart disease and cancer,” said Bomser, who researches the
effects of diet on chronic diseases. “Getting at least five servings a day of these items is
still a good recommendation for promoting optimal health.”
Credits
Writer - Tom Nordlie, tnordlie@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-0400, ext. 276
Source - Stephen Talcott, sttalcott@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1991, ext. 218
Source - Joshua Bomser, jbomser@hec.ohio-state.edu, (614) 247-6622
http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/
"Scientists have observed in the laboratory that the cells and other components of the immune system are capable of destroying malignant tumor cells. They have found that certain antibodies that recognize tumor cells help the macrophages and the natural killer cells accomplish their mission. Over the years, further study of the immue system has demonstrated that the body defends itself against cancer in much the same way that it seeks to eliminate other intruders such as bacteria and viruses. Further study of the immune system is expected to reveal ways to bolster it, allowing the body to become a more active partner in the fight against cancer."
-The Cancer Research Institute
"Scientists have observed in the laboratory that the cells and other components of the immune system are capable of destroying malignant tumor cells. They have found that certain antibodies that recognize tumor cells help the macrophages and the natural killer cells accomplish their mission. Over the years, further study of the immue system has demonstrated that the body defends itself against cancer in much the same way that it seeks to eliminate other intruders such as bacteria and viruses. Further study of the immune system is expected to reveal ways to bolster it, allowing the body to become a more active partner in the fight against cancer."
-The Cancer Research Institute
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