| Berries, cancer AND BENEFITS updated on February 2, 2007. |
Consumption of berries has been implicated with diverse health
benefits. Berries contain a diverse range of phytochemicals with
biological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer,
anti-neurodegerative, and anti-inflammatory activities [3]
The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols,
flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and
phenolic acids. [3]
Some berry constituents have been proven to have cancer
preventive actions on chemically induced tumors in vivo and cancer
suppressive effects in in vitro studies. Many of these effects were
attributed to certain berry phytochemicals with high antioxidative
potential that could contribute to, or enhance by induction, the
endogenous antioxidant properties of living cells or organisms. [1]
Researchers from University of Kuopio, Finland, compared the
effects of berry extracts containing different phenolic profiles on
cell viability and expression of markers of cell proliferation and
apoptosis in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. They found that the
degree of cell growth inhibition was as follows: bilberry > black
currant > cloudberry > lingonberry > raspberry > strawberry. In the
study, Cloudberry, despite its very low anthocyanin content, was a
potent inhibitor of cell proliferation. [2]
On the other hand, Seeram NP co-workers from UCLA showed
Black raspberry and strawberry extracts showed the most
significant pro-apoptotic effects against cell line of HT-29 (a colon
tumor). Anyway, all extracts (blackberry, black raspberry,
blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry and strawberry) in their study
showed ability to inhibit the growth of human oral (KB, CAL-27),
breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29, HCT116), and prostate (LNCaP)
tumor cell lines at concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 micro
g/mL. With increasing concentration of berry extract, increasing
inhibition of cell proliferation in all of the cell lines were observed,
with different degrees of potency between cell lines. Does this
mean intake more of berries can boost their anti-cancer effects?
[1] Juranic Z et al, Biological activities of berries: from antioxidant
capacity to anti-cancer effects. Biofactors. 2005;23(4):207-11.
Review. [2] Lotito SB et al, Consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and
increased plasma antioxidant capacity in humans: cause,
consequence, or epiphenomenon? Free Radic Biol Med. 2006 Dec
15;41(12):1727-46. Epub 2006 Jun 3. [3] Seeram NP et al,
Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry,
and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of
human cancer cells in vitro. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec
13;54(25):9329-39.
benefits. Berries contain a diverse range of phytochemicals with
biological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer,
anti-neurodegerative, and anti-inflammatory activities [3]
The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols,
flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and
phenolic acids. [3]
Some berry constituents have been proven to have cancer
preventive actions on chemically induced tumors in vivo and cancer
suppressive effects in in vitro studies. Many of these effects were
attributed to certain berry phytochemicals with high antioxidative
potential that could contribute to, or enhance by induction, the
endogenous antioxidant properties of living cells or organisms. [1]
Researchers from University of Kuopio, Finland, compared the
effects of berry extracts containing different phenolic profiles on
cell viability and expression of markers of cell proliferation and
apoptosis in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. They found that the
degree of cell growth inhibition was as follows: bilberry > black
currant > cloudberry > lingonberry > raspberry > strawberry. In the
study, Cloudberry, despite its very low anthocyanin content, was a
potent inhibitor of cell proliferation. [2]
On the other hand, Seeram NP co-workers from UCLA showed
Black raspberry and strawberry extracts showed the most
significant pro-apoptotic effects against cell line of HT-29 (a colon
tumor). Anyway, all extracts (blackberry, black raspberry,
blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry and strawberry) in their study
showed ability to inhibit the growth of human oral (KB, CAL-27),
breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29, HCT116), and prostate (LNCaP)
tumor cell lines at concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 micro
g/mL. With increasing concentration of berry extract, increasing
inhibition of cell proliferation in all of the cell lines were observed,
with different degrees of potency between cell lines. Does this
mean intake more of berries can boost their anti-cancer effects?
[1] Juranic Z et al, Biological activities of berries: from antioxidant
capacity to anti-cancer effects. Biofactors. 2005;23(4):207-11.
Review. [2] Lotito SB et al, Consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and
increased plasma antioxidant capacity in humans: cause,
consequence, or epiphenomenon? Free Radic Biol Med. 2006 Dec
15;41(12):1727-46. Epub 2006 Jun 3. [3] Seeram NP et al,
Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry,
and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of
human cancer cells in vitro. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec
13;54(25):9329-39.