Pomegranate Fruit Extract may protect the skin from aging, inflammation, wrinkle-associated damage, and cancer associated genes

UVA (ultraviolet A) makes up 90% to 99% of the suns radiation that reaches the earth. UVA contributes to aging of the skin, DNA damage, and skin cancer. UVA light has a longer wavelength than UVB and because of this it can penetrate deeper into the skin and it is thought to be the major contributor to wrinkles. Because of its wave length, UVA penetrates most windows and because it penetrates deeper into the skin it does not contribute to reddening of the skin and sunburn. UVA because it penetrates deeper into the skin, impairs the skins immune protection making UVA more likely to cause melanoma; the most deadly and aggressive skin cancer. UVA related damage is largely due to the release of free radical species that lead to radiation related immune suppression, photodermatoses, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Pomegranate Fruit Extract (PFE) possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous research by these scientists has shown that PFE protect the skins keratinocytes (the skins keratin producing cells which are the most common cells in the skins outer layer and the keratin they make is the primary protein in the skin) from inflammation caused by UVB (UVB because it is a shorter wave length is responsible for sunburn and other non-melanoma forms of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma). When keratinocytes were pretreated with PFE they were protected from inflammation and from the influence of cancer growth related genes and abnormal cell growth and dysregulation was inhibited. Tumor suppressing genes also became more active. The research was performed at the Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wi. and is published in the March-April 2006 issue of the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Yesterday we reported that taking a combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and ibuprofen prevented the onset of Alzheimer's disease in patients who inherited a gene from their parents that puts them at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists discover 3 new cancer fighting Xanthones in Mangosteen fruit and further refine the knowledge of the cancer fighting ability of previously known Xanthones

Three new Xanthone polyphenols have been found in the Mangosteen fruit adding to the 16 already known bringing the total number of known Mangosteen Xanthones up to 19. Newly discovered Compound 1 had an ability to destroy cancer cells of the mouth, breast, and small cell lung cancer. Alpha-mangostin 12, a previously discovered Xanthone and major metabolite has the strongest effect against breast cancer cells and in fact was much stronger than the standard drug ellipticine. Alpha-Mangostin 12 was also the strongest against cancerous KB skin type cells. The Xanthone Gartanin 10 displayed the strongest activity against small cell lung cancer cells. The research is published in the March 2006 issue of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Tokyo).