Review of over 70 previous studies shows that Resveratrol is an anti-cancer agent

In a review of over 70 studies researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and from the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, identify the grape skin derived, natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory nutrient Resveratrol, known for its heart and blood vessel protecting qualities, as an anti-cancer compound.

Resveratrol exhibits a vast array of anticancer properties, and the range of its activity is suggested by its ability to suppress the proliferation of a wide variety of cancerous tumor cells including: lymphoid and myeloid cancers, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, thyroid, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma.

Resveratrol improves the ability of the immune system to destroy cancer cells (it improves TRAIL activity or TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand).

Resveratrol potentiates the ability of chemotherapy and radiation to fight cancer.

Resveratrol inhibits the turning on of cancer causing molecules by blocking cytochrome P 450 activation (inhibits aryl hydrocarbon induced CYP1A1).

Resveratrol suppresses the initiation of a tumor, promotion towards cancer, and the progression to full blown cancer.

Resveratrol increases levels of genes that suppress cancer growth (including p21, Cip1, WAF1, Bax, and p53.

Resveratrol inhibits genes that protect the cancer cell and these genes allow the cancer to thrive, causing it to advance into a cancerous or metastasized state (surviving, cyclin D1, cyclin E [high levels of cyclin E decreases the risk of surviving breast cancer], Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and cIAPs) Resveratrol activates caspases; caspases are immune cells that deactivate and chop up damaged, diseased and cancerous cells, causing their death and removal, in short, caspases are our main defense against cancer and can be thought of as the executioners of cancer cells.

Resveratrol inhibits enzymes and factors that nourish and cause the production of cancer cells.

The research review is published in the September-October 2004 issue of the journal Anticancer Research.

Pomegranate may protect the skin from the suns UVB radiation

The suns ultraviolet B radiation causes sunburn, excess pigment discoloration of the skin, suppression of the immune system, excessive growth of skin cells, aging of the skin, and skin cancer. Pomegranate contains unique ingredients including the anthocyanin polyphenols delphinidin, cyaniding, and pelargonidin, and the tannin polyphenols punicalin, pedunculagin, punicalagin, gallagic and Ellagic acid esters that possess powerful antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently these researchers demonstrated that pomegranate has anticancer effects protecting lab animals from cancer causing chemicals (carcinogens). Pre-treating one day before UVB exposure decreased the release of genes that cause damage to healthy skin cells and inhibited inflammation of healthy skin tissue. The conclusion is that Pomegranate extract protects skin from UVB radiation damage and aging. The research was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin and is published in the Jan-Feb issue of the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology.