Prostate Cancer And Pomegranates

By Jason Myers

Pomegranates have long been utilized in conventional folk remedies to treat sore throats, inflammation, and rheumatism. And latest scientific research study has suggested that they are also possibly responsive in both the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

One study, conducted on human prostate cancer cells in lab dishes, at the University of Wisconsin, found that there existed dosage dependant improvements. One more study at the same facility occurred wherein mice were injected with human prostate cancer cells. Resklts showed that these mice acquired malignancies. Some mice were fed with plain fluid, whilst two other groups of mice were given water mixed with different concentrations of pomegranate extract.

Those mice subjects that had water only had tumours that developed much faster than the pomegranate and water groups. The quantities accorded to the mice were identical to that which individuals might take in if they drink pomegranate juice everyday. And although pomegranate juice hasn't yet been tested on human beings with prostate cancer, the results are indeed encouraging.

The study did not identify what areas of pomegranate juice were responsible for slowing down prostate tumour growth. But the scientists involved mentioned the antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, which are more effective than green tea and red wine.

Pomegranate extract not only inhibited the development of cancer cells, it also worked by another means - apoptosis.

Apoptosis relates to a way that cells can break down. Cancer growths are characterized by an uncontrollable growth of cells without following the the normal procedures of cellular differentiation of regular healthy cells. Cellular differentiation means that the characteristics of a cell change and acquire the functions that a mature, healthy cell would. For example, liver cells have specialized liver functions, that holds true in the case of prostate, breast, kidney, and all other cells types. This is right and healthy.

In tumour growths, though some cells fully differentiate, many just differentiate partially, and some not at all. And the tumors with greater undifferentiated cells grow at a faster pace. So, inducing cellular differentiation is one path towards cancer treatment. One more way being tried by medical specialists and researchers in treating cancer is by causing the death of cancerous cells. They do this through apoptosis, as stated above, and necrosis.

In General, prostate cancer grows at very slow pace, though it is unpredictable and can advance and spread quickly. - 30427

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