The evidence is mounting that a plant nutrient prevents and fights off the growth of cancer cells of different types of cancer.
Ellagic acid, a biochemical common among a number of healthy foods, has been receiving increased focus by researchers because it directly inhibits cancer cell growth.
Prostate Cancer
Researchers from Italy's University of Catania tested human prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. They found that ellagic acid ellagic acid resulted in a significant inhibition of the cancer cell growth by decreasing the cell's ability to process fatty acids and process cellular respiration.Similar findings for human prostate was found by researchers from the University of California at Riverside
Lymphoma
Researchers from India's Banaras Hindu University found that ellagic acid produced cell death among lymphoma cancer via similar mechanisms, but also through the protein kinase C or PKC.Ellagic acid and Pancreatic Cancer
Multiple studies have shown ellagic acid halts the formation and growth of pancreatic tumors. Researchers from the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System studied ellagic acid among human pancreatic cancer cells and found that it increased cell death and stopped proliferation among the cancer cells. They also found it decreases tumor size.They found these relationships to be dose-dependent: Meaning larger doses killed more cancer cells and slowed tumor growth further. Dose dependent results is the gold standard among research.
Ellagic acid and Breast Cancer
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Chinese Medicine have found that ellagic acid – a phytonutrient found in many fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs – fights off the growth of breast cancer cells.The researchers found ellagic acid interferes with a cancer’s ability to expand through the process of creating blood vessels to feed its growth. This creation of blood vessels is called angiogenesis.
Cancer researchers have been experimenting with new pharmaceuticals in an effort to halt the process of angiogenesis among cancer cells. This new research found that a natural substance available in fruits, vegetables and herbal medicines can achieve the same purpose.
The research discovered that ellagic acid interferes with a receptor called VEGFR-2, which, when bound by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stimulates the growth of blood vessels among cancer cells.
The researchers tested ellagic acid among human breast cancer cells in the laboratory. They found that the ellagic acid “significantly inhibited” the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer tumors, as well as blocked the ability of the tumor cells to expand and migrate – also called metastasizing. The researchers confirmed the findings using different experimental models.
The findings were published in this month’s Breast Cancer Researcher and Treatment Journal.
Ellagic acid has also been shown in other research to slow and even reverse cancer growth. A previous study by the same researchers found that an herbal medicine called Sanguisorba officinalis halted breast tumor progression. As they investigated the active compounds that produced this effect, they came upon the ellagic acid. They found that ellagic acid, along with gallic acid, reduced tumor size and inhibited the expansion of human breast cancer tumors.
Ellagic acid found in many foods
While ellagic acid is found in a large variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs, some of the highest levels are found among berry fruits and grapes. Strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, pomegranates, raspberries, blackberries and grapes have some of the highest amounts of ellagic acid. Walnuts and pecans also contain significant amounts. Ellagic acid is most known for its ability to neutralize free radicals - giving it a reputation of being a strong antioxidant.Commentary
In a study from China's Southeast University, researchers reviewed the evidence and concluded the mechanisms for ellagic acid's ability to stop cancer growth were multiple. These included:- Binding to and neutralizing carcinogens before they cause cancer
- Disrupting the DNA of carcinogens
- Interrupting inflammation
- Inhibiting tumor growth
- Inducing cancer cell death (apoptosis)
- Halting the process of tumor blood vessel creation
What this indicates is that ellagic acid is specifically anti-cancer in that it works to not only prevent cancer cells from forming, but prevents their growth into tumors, and prevents those tumors that have formed from enlarging.
Turns out nature is a lot smarter than we give credit.
REFERENCES:
Vanella L, Di Giacomo C, Acquaviva R, Barbagallo I, Li Volti G, Cardile V, Abraham NG, Sorrenti V. Effects of ellagic Acid on angiogenic factors in prostate cancer cells. Cancers (Basel). 2013 Jun 19;5(2):726-38. doi: 10.3390/cancers5020726.
Mishra S, Vinayak M. Ellagic acid induces novel and atypical PKC isoforms and promotes caspase-3 dependent apoptosis by blocking energy metabolism. Nutr Cancer. 2014;66(4):675-81. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.878735.
Mishra S, Vinayak M. Ellagic acid inhibits PKC signaling by improving antioxidant defense system in murine T cell lymphoma. Mol Biol Rep. 2014 Jul;41(7):4187-97. doi: 10.1007/s11033-014-3289-0.
Wang L, Li W, Lin M, Garcia M, Mulholland D, Lilly M, Martins-Green M. Luteolin, Ellagic Acid and Punicic Acid are Natural Products that Inhibit Prostate Cancer Metastasis. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Jul 14. pii: bgu145.
Edderkaoui M, Lugea A, Hui H, Eibl G, Lu QY, Moro A, Lu X, Li G, Go VL, Pandol SJ. Ellagic acid and embelin affect key cellular components of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, cancer, and stellate cells. Nutr Cancer. 2013;65(8):1232-44. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.832779.
Wang N, Wang ZY, Mo SL, Loo TY, Wang DM, Luo HB, Yang DP, Chen YL, Shen JG, Chen JP. Ellagic acid, a phenolic compound, exerts anti-angiogenesis effects via VEGFR-2 signaling pathway in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Feb 21.
Wang Z, Loo WT, Wang N, Chow LW, Wang D, Han F, Zheng X, Chen JP. Effect of Sanguisorba officinalis L on breast cancer growth and angiogenesis. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2012 Feb 9.
Zhang HM, Zhao L, Li H, Xu H, Chen WW, Tao L. Research progress on the anticarcinogenic actions and mechanisms of ellagic acid. Cancer Biol Med. 2014 Jun;11(2):92-100. doi: 10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2014.02.004.
Photo by Sancho McCann