Pomegranates May Prevent Breast Cancer

Pomegranate juice could be the next estrogen-responsive breast cancer treatment. A new lab study has demonstrated promising results when evaluating the use of pomegranate juice, a juice rich in antioxidants, as a way of fighting off and preventing breast cancer.

Researchers from the Ohio State University discovered that the large red fruit filled with juicy seeds naturally produces a chemical known as ellagic acid, which seems to help slow and even prevent the growth of cancer cells in breast tissue.
In a lab, the team studied the effects of ten ellagitannin-derived compounds produced by pomegranates, which are thought to potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer. They considered the effects of the ten compounds on the growth of breast cancer cells and aromatase activity. Of the ten ellagitannin-derived compounds studied, the researchers discovered urolithin B was the standout in the fight against breast cancer.

Researchers have created a scale called the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity scale (ORAC) which measures the antioxidant level in fruits and vegetables. Dr. David Hnida, a CBS3 medical editor said, “The higher the number on the scale, the more antioxidants and disease-fighting chemicals in the food.” Researchers have measured antioxidant levels in over 200 different fruits and vegetables. Those at the top of the list include blueberries, plums, blackberries, raspberries, dark grapes, apples and strawberries.

Experts aren’t recommending substituting pomegranates for prescribed medicine yet, we may see the fruit being used in breast cancer treatment and prevention efforts eventually. In the meantime, women may want to add a daily pomegranate to their daily diet as an extra effort to ward off the leading form of cancer found in women.