Black Raspberry; more evidence that it protects against cancer

Recently scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrated that a major antioxidant from Black Raspberry selectively destroyed leukemia cells while protecting nearby healthy cells (posted on our website June 25th, 2007).

Not very long ago we reported that scientists from Ohio State University treated rats with a chemical carcinogen that dependably causes esophageal cancer. Giving Black Raspberries after exposing them to the chemical cut the number of tumors by 39%. However, giving them Black Raspberries before and after exposure to the chemical cut the number of tumors by 49% compared to animals not supplemented with Black Raspberries. The occurrence of cancer was decreased and so was the size of tumors that may have developed. By week 35 of the study there were 67% fewer tumors per animal. In other studies the scientists reduced the incidence of cancerous tumors of the colon by 60% to 80% depending on the chemical-carcinogen used in the study and reduced the number of cancerous esophageal tumors by 80% by supplementing the rats with Freeze Dried Black Raspberries.

In this newest study the Scientists from Ohio State University repeatedly exposed rats to NMBA over a 15 week period. NMBA is the chemical that dependably causes esophageal cancer. At 19 weeks when the rats had already developed an average of 5-6 tumors in their esophagus they were fed a diet supplemented with different amounts of Freeze Dried Black Raspberry powder for the next seven weeks. There were small but progressive increases in the length of survival of the rats that did develop the cancer. However, if the rats were supplemented with Freeze Dried Black Raspberries before, during, and after chemical exposure there were far fewer damaged genes showing a decreased risk of developing full fledged cancerous tumors. The study is published in the recent issue of the journal Acta Pharmacologica Sinica.

Cancer of the esophagus is the sixth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In those diagnosed with the disease the outlook is grim with just 8 to 12 percent still alive 5 years after diagnosis.