Groundbreaking study: Aronia, curcumin extracts effectively kill brain cancer cell line

Groundbreaking study: Aronia, curcumin extracts effectively kill brain cancer cell line


(NaturalNews) Researchers from the Department of Natural Sciences at Middlesex University
in the U.K. have made a fascinating discovery concerning two natural
"superfood" compounds and their ability to kill cancer cells. It turns
out that both chokeberry extract (Aronia melanocarpa) and turmeric (Curcuma longa)
work together with one another to stop the spread of malignant cancer
cells, as well as induce cancer cell death, a process more commonly
known as apoptosis.

The study, which was published in the journal Oncology Reports,
evaluated the effects of both Aronia and curcumin on a specific
glioblastoma line of brain cancer cells known as U373. Because earlier
studies have already established that both herbs possess unique
anticancer properties, the researchers, who themselves have been
studying the herbs' therapeutic benefits for several years, decided to
examine further how one of the most common and deadly forms of brain
cancer might respond to these two anticancer superfoods.

It turns
out that Aronia berry, which is rich in anthocyanin flavonoids and
other antioxidants and nutrients, is necrotic to the U373 cancer cell
line, which means it actually kills cancer cells. And turmeric, which is
abundant in the anticancer polyphenol curcumin, effectively induces
apoptosis in U373, meaning that it stops this deadly cell line from
producing new cells and spreading. When used together, both Aronia and
turmeric appear to elicit a one-two punch defense against brain cancer.

"The
aim of this study was to extend our previous research to evaluate the
therapeutic potential of these two agents by testing their ability to
induce apoptosis in an established glioblastoma cell line (U373)," wrote
the authors in their abstract. "Taken together, the comparative data
suggest that both curcumin
and chokeberry extract may exhibit their anticancer potential by
inducing apoptosis and inhibiting invasion by reducing MMPs (matrix
metalloproteinase) gene expression."

According to a 2003 study published in the journal Anticancer Research,
curcumin also suppresses the proliferation of many other types of
cancer cells besides just brain cancer cells, and effectively blocks
cancer tumors from forming, reproducing, and metastasizing (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12680238). The Life Extension Foundation (LEF) recommends the highly-bioavailable BCM-95 variety of curcumin as the most effective form. (http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/oct2007_report_curcumin_01.htm)

Likewise,
Aronia berry has been shown in previous studies to be one of the
richest plant sources of cancer-fighting antioxidants. A study published
earlier this year in the journal PLoS One explains how Aronia
juice extract possesses unique chemotherapeutic properties that
effectively target lymphoblast-derived tumor cells associated with
lymphoblastic leukemia. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22412883)


Source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/037476_aronia_curcumin_brain_cancer.html