Anti-carcinogenic properties

Palm carotenoids provide a source of pro-vitamin A and its orange-red colour is useful as a natural pigment for food preparations, margarines, biscuits and confectionery. Besides the role of providing a source of vitamin, carotenoids are considered to have anti-carcinogenic properties. 

In addition to effects on body composition, CLA has been investigated extensively for its inhibiting effects on cancer. A number of studies have reported a moderate inhibitory effect of CLA on the growth of several human tumor cell lines such as breast cancer cells (38), colon cancer cells (39), lung adenocarcinoma cells (40), prostate cancer cells (41), and melanoma (skin) cells (42). In in vivo studies in mostly rats and mice, CLA has shown anti-carcinogenic properties as well. Both anti-initiation activity and inhibitory effects on tumor promotion by CLA have been reported. The work by Ip et al. clearly demonstrated an anti-carcinogenic effect of CLA on mammary tumors in... 

Bagchi, D., Sen, C.K., Bagchi, M., and Atalay, M. 2004. Anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties of a novel anthocyanin-rich berry extract formula. Biochemistry (Mosc) 69(l) 75-80. 

Many claims for health benefits have been made for CLA in both animals and humans. These have been reviewed in detail elsewhere (Yurawecz et al, 1999a) and will only be discussed briefly here. The first indication that CLA might be biologically active was reported in 1979 when an extract from grilled beef was found to inhibit mutagenesis in a rat liver cell fraction (Pariza et al, 1979). Studies on the potentially anti-carcinogenic properties of CLA, both in vitro and in vivo (Pariza et al, 2001), have demonstrated that the isomer with an active effect on cancer cells is probably the 9-cis, ll-trans isomer. In vivo studies in rodents showed that dietary CLA supplementation decreased the number and size of mammary tumours, regardless of other lipid intake (Ip et al, 1996), and that topically applied CLA reduced the size and number of skin... 

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane) is the main pigment of turmeric. It is widely used as a colorant and preservative agent. No data regarding its daily intake in western countries are available intake may reach 80 to 200 mg in adult Indians. To date, no study has explored the effect of curcumin consumption on the incidence of diseases, but many beneficial effects on health have been reported in cell and animal models. These include anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-Alzheimer s disease properties. ... 

Although the correlation between structural properties of aromatic hydrocarbons and their carcinogenic properties proved to be much more complicated than was hoped, this type of calculation opened the door to the application of quantum chemistry to biological systems. The calculations are applied not only to cancer-related problems, but also to the study of amino acids, peptides, nucleotides, and other than anti-cancer therapeutic agents. 

As stated in a recent review [53], the development of efficient cisplatin chemotherapy has brought an unexpected challenge as many patients survive longer, they find themselves at risk of late complication in their anti-neoplasic therapy. Indeed, although unambiguous data on the capacity of cisplatin to induce secondary cancers in humans is still lacking, its carcinogenic properties in rats and mice has been reported [53] [54], Treatment-... 

Ethidium bromide is a common fluorescent stain for nucleic acids, ft is reported to have significant anti-tumor and anti-viral properties. However, its potential applications in human therapy are prevented, due to its mutagenic and carcinogenic activities in model organisms. 

Sassafras oil, sassafras bark, and safrole (80% of the oil) are prohibited by the FDA as food additives and flavorings because of their carcinogenic properties. A safrole-free extract is available on the market, but studies have shown that the product still produces tumors in rats (Tyler, 1993). Nevertheless, sassafras is touted in herbal home remedy books and continues to be available in health food stores. Sassafras still enjoys a reputation as a spring tonic, stimulant, anti spasmodic, blood purifier, and sudorific (sweat producer), and as a cure for rheumatism, skin diseases, syphilis, typhus, and dropsy (congestive heart failure) (Tyler, 1993). Unfortunately, sassafras seems to be nothing more than a folk medicine for more than 200 yr it has been known to be without therapeutic utility (Tyler, 1994). 

Capsaicin is a natural compound that has been described as both anti-genotoxic and anti-carcinogenic. In addition, it is surmised to have a potential chemopreventive activity [119]. The compound s antiinflammatory properties have been demonstrated in different in vivo pharmacological tests, which have shown that it inhibits, among others, carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats and croton oil-induced mouse ear edema. These effects are associated with its interference of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), the enzyme that produces arachidonic acid from the membrane phospholipids. Moreover, the proapoptotic effects of capsaicin are widely documented in the literature [120]. 

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