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 Black
Raspberries May Slow Growth of Colon, Other
Cancers
Newswise — For several years, our laboratories
have studied the ability of freeze-dried berries (black raspberries,
strawberries and blackberries) to inhibit cancer in the esophagus,
colon and oral cavity.
Berries contain a number of agents that prevent
cancer including vitamins A, C, and E; calcium and selenium;
ß-carotene, α-carotene and lutein; and many phenolic compounds which
have high anti-oxidant potential.
The most abundant phenols are the anthocyanins
which give berries their color. In general, dark berries have higher
contents of anthocyanins and anti-oxidant potential than light
berries.
The addition of powdered
berries at 5 and 10% of the diet of animals reduces
their risk for development of cancer in the oral
cavity, esophagus and colon by 45-80%. Berries
function to reduce the amount of genetic (DNA)
damage produced in these tissues by chemical
carcinogens, including carcinogens in tobacco smoke
and in the diet.
They also reduce the growth rate of
precancerous cells, in part, by reducing the expression of genes
associated with cell growth.
Berries also inhibit the expression of other
genes associated with cancer development including genes involved in
inflammatory processes and in the formation of new blood vessels
(angiogenesis). In a preliminary trial in humans, berries were found
to be well tolerated at doses similar to those used in animals.
They reduced cellular damage caused by
oxidative radicals which is consistent with their anti-oxidant
potential. In view of these results, several human clinical trials
are ongoing to determine the ability of freeze-dried berries to
inhibit the development of precancerous lesions in the oral cavity,
esophagus and colon of humans. Preliminary results suggest that
berries influence the expression of many of the same genes in humans
as they do in animals. An apparent advantage of this “food-based”
approach to disease prevention is the relative absence of toxicity
associated with the long-term consumption of berries by humans.
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