* Ellagic Acid

Many of the things described so far here on ThousandFeathers have contained ELLAGIC ACID. This is probably close to the first time you’ve ever heard of it. You might ask “If I have never heard of it why is it so important?” Those who’ve been reading along here have probably begun to see the pattern(s). Some foods are better for us. Some foods have more of the phytonutrients that inhibit and in some cases possibly stop cancer. ELLAGIC ACID is one of those phytonutrients.

ELLAGIC ACID found in numerous fruits vegetables and nuts is a natural phenol antioxidant. It has already, in published studies, been shown to be anti-proliferative, chemoprotective, inhibits mutations within a cells DNA, anti-bacterial, causes cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells, anti-viral, and has been shown to reduce blood pressure.

It is found in BLACKBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES, CRANBERRIES, WALNUTS, PECANS, POMEGRANATES, WOLFBERRY (GOJI), CHERRIES, and other plant foods. The foods with the highest amounts of ELLAGIC ACID are STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, CRANBERRIES and GRAPES.

Research indicates that the anti-proliferative properties of ELLAGIC ACID is because of its ability to directly inhibit the DNA binding of various carcinogens (nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). It acts as a scavenger and binds with cancer causing chemicals, inactivating them.

One report indicates that it is antagonistic with CATECHINS such as those found in tea.

Laboratory studies to date have shown effectiveness against breast, cervical, colon, esophageal, liver, lung, pancreatic, skin, tongue, prostate cancers and leukemia.

Unpublished research at the Hollings Cancer Center shows that one cup of raspberries per week will stop prostate cancer growth for a period of up to one week. (this is the very kind of “research” I do not like to report and will always make a point of indicating that it is quite “unfounded” at this time, but there is something intriguing about this, and if this study is ever published I do wish to read it.)

“Dr. Daniel Nixon, of the Medical University of South Carolina stated that ellagic acid, “is known to inhibit certain carcinogen-induced cancers and may have other preventive properties.” Dr. Nixon studied the effects of ellagic acid on cervical carcinoma cells. He found that ellagic acid stopped tumor growth in the lab after a couple of days and induced apoptosis” (cell death).

-study showed that the anti-cancer activities of PUNICALAGIN, ELLAGIC ACID are enhanced in combination with other polyphenols as found in POMEGRANATE juice.

-The daily dose of Ellagic Acid ranges as high as 1 gram (1000 milligrams, or 1000mg).
-In plants ellagic acid is present in the form of ellagitannin, which is ellagic acid bound to a sugar molecule.
The Hollings Cancer Center claimed that one cup of RASPBERRIES could stop prostate cancer growth for up to one week. What have you got to lose? Ounce for ounce, the price of health is ALWAYS cheaper than a bag of potato chips.
mm

@ STRAWBERRIES

STRAWBERRY Twizzlers was how I liked my STRAWBERRIES. Not in a jam, not in a soda, not even covered with chocolate. STRAWBERRIES are another one of those fruits which as a kid I didn’t quite know what the attraction was. I would sometimes eat those things after trying to pull the green leaves off. They have hairs you know and these really tiny seeds that would get stuck…not exactly a good “mouthfeel” as they say. To me they were listed somewhere around CHERRIES and Kiwi. Not a bad taste just not my favorite.

and then I got cancer.

My research turned up some surprising things about STRAWBERRIES, that led me to include them in my diet. I add dried STRAWBERRIES to the PCa Fightin’ Trail Mix, and when I am in the store and see a container of assorted fruit that has sliced STRAWBERRIES, it is now more attractive to me.

I am not going to describe where they came from, or their history, or various cultural attitudes toward them. We all know what STRAWBERRIES are, so I am just going to go straight into my notes, detailed discussion of the supporting studies will have to come later.

-rich in ELLAGIC ACID
-QUERCETIN found in abundance in STRAWBERRIES
-QUERCETIN and also whole STRAWBERRY extract inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells
-key is to be eating these berries in their raw form (STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES)
-WILD STRAWBERRIES: seven wild types have most effective phytonutrients
-top berry source for QUERCETIN
-STRAWBERRIES have more ELLAGIC ACID than RASPBERRIES, in which the ELLAGIC ACID is in the seeds, unlike STRAWBERRIES where it is in the pulp
-both STRAWBERRY and RASPBERRY extracts have been able to counter the growth of tumor cells in research laboratories, this anti-cancer action is actually related to the polyphenols contained in the berries, rather than their antioxidant potential as is commonly assumed
-main dietary source of ELLAGIC ACID in the west (STRAWBERRIES and RASPBERRIES) some white varieties highest.
-freeze dried STRAWBERRIES contain ISOTHIOCYANATES…which affect P450 enzymes
-ELLAGIC ACID content alone not enough to explain anti-tumor effect
-study on STRAWBERRY PHENOLICS listed ten compounds of which three (PELARGONIDIN, PELARGONIDIN-3-GLUCOSIDE and KAEMPHEROL) were the most potent antioxidants. Crude extracts and pure compounds from STRAWBERRIES were shown to inhibit, oral cancer cell lines, colon cancer cell lines and prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and LNCaP). Other anti-cancer compounds tested were QUERCETIN and ELLAGIC ACID
-contain several ISOTHIOCYANATES which have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on esophageal cancer, one ISOTHIOCYANATE phenylhexyl isothiocyanate enhanced tumorigenesis. They are believed to act against cytochrome P450 enzymes. Freeze dried STRAWBERRIES were seen to be potent inhibitors but not as strong as PEITC or PPITC. The effect could not be attributed only to the action of ELLAGIC ACID.
-STRAWBERRY extracts decreased the viability of colon cancer and breast cancer cell lines in a dose dependent way. It was also shown that ORGANICALLY GROWN STRAWBERRIES SHOWED THE HIGHEST INHIBITION OF CANCER CELL GROWTH.
-STRAWBERRIES were shown to inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells. Epidermal cells treated with a known carcinogenic compound were found to have reduced rates of transformation into cancerous cells when treated with STRAWBERRY extracts.
-consumption of STRAWBERRIES, GARLIC juice (yum), or KALE juice can reduce the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamonines
-of a number of berry fruits studied for their effects against various cell lines (all had some inhibitory effect) BLACK RASPBERRY and STRAWBERRY extracts had the strongest effect against the human colon cancer cell line HT-29
-some effect on the PC-3 human prostate cancer cell line.
-LUPEOL a cancer fighting triterpene…found in STRAWBERRIES
-“DNA damage is a prerequisite for the initiation of cancer and agents that reduce this damage are useful in cancer prevention”
-compared to BLUEBERRIES (low ELLAGIC ACID) and RED RASPBERRIES (high ELLAGIC ACID) STRAWBERRIES are considered (in one study) to have “medium” ELLAGIC ACID content. “RED RASPBERRY and ELLAGIC ACID reduce endogenous oxidative DNA damage” [maybe STRAWBERRIES didn’t win first place, but it was shown that they can have a positive effect on reducing DNA damage, “second” place isn’t all that bad either.]
-Northeaster cultivar STRAWBERRY extract inhibited about 80% of human liver cell line HepG2 proliferation.
-anti-proliferative activity was greater at harvest than after storage. (anyone surprised?)
-several berry extracts were studied for their effects against human cervical cancer HeLa cell line and the human colon cancer cell line CaCo-2. STRAWBERRY was found to be the most effective of the 8 berry fruits studied
-several fruits were studied for their phytonutrient cancer fighting ability after being frozen. All seemed to retain significant levels.
-possible synergistic action with ascorbate

There is an interesting discussion I had with a close family friend who is a veterinarian/professor at Tufts University. It was about the human intestine and what kind of foods it was most suited for. By now you are probably guessing where I am going with this. In my own personal experience, when I consider how I feel physically after eating a couple of sandwiches at McDonalds with how I feel physically after eating a MANGO or a bowlful of various pieces of fruit, the answer is clear.

Make fruit a more significant part of your life, you will feel better at the very least.
martin

* QUERCETIN

Quercetin a flavonol, plant derived flavonoid. Found quite broadly throughout the range of foods that we eat. The foods richest in quercetin are black and green teas, capers, apples, onions – especially red onions, red grapes, citrus fruit, tomatoes, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, raspberries, lingon berries, cranberries, fenugreek seeds, and honey. Non cancer fighting benefits include, the reduction of blood pressure, reduction of LDL cholesterol in the obese, and when combined with resveratrol inhibits the production of fat cells. Those individuals and cultures that eat the most quercetin have lower rates of colorectal, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, leukemia, and lung cancers. The Mayo Clinic has announced “quercetin prevents prostate cancer”.

It has been surmised that the reason some cancers recur is because of “cancer stem cells”. This area of cancer research I find to be extremely exciting. These cancer stem cells can arise in other parts of the body as undifferentiated cells and become cancerous. This is important in prostate cancer, because prostate cancer cell lines contain a small population of cancer stem cells.

Some phytonutrients have been found to have a specific, clinically proven effect upon these cell populations. (The first time I came across this was in studying Feverfew.) Quecetin combined with EGCG (epigallocatechin 3-gallate) synergistically repress these cells. EGCG, a compound found in tea, affects a number of targets in cancer cells.

Quercetin is effective against androgen independent PC-3 cancer cells. “Quercetin inhibited cell proliferation. Modulated expression of genes involved in cell repair, matrix degradation…tumor invasion, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, metabolism, and glycolysis.”

This is just one of many compounds that work synergisticly with other compounds. It is found in a lot of the foods that are eaten frequently even in today’s “diet”. It is hard to not consume quercetin but some of us manage it! Numerous studies have repeatedly shown it to be effective against not just androgen dependent cancer but the more frightening and serious androgen independent cancer. It attacks a variety of cancer cell targets. It is benign. It is found in foods that are known to be “healthy”. Why would anyone eat a potato chip or a corn chip when you could pick up a food that wont kill you. Okay sure I exaggerate, go ahead the next time you are in the grocery store stand next to the apple display with a bag of corn chips and make your choice: LIFE or DEATH? Okay sure I exaggerate…have another potato chip. If you dont like apples have some dried cranberries or a bottle of wine (it too has quercetin) or both.

But please what ever you do, dont think “well it aint organic so what’s the point?” because there is a point, maybe you cant go paleolithic over night but that doesn’t mean you cant begin somewhere. Every step, every small incremental change adds up. It adds up to one thing, living.

choose well, enjoy an apple, or add some capers to that salad of watercress.
best wishes, eat intelligently
mm