Phyto-Nutrients, Plant Extracts Being Researched For Cancer Risk Reduction...

Herbal Ingredients Show Valuable Breast Health Support

Phyto-Nutrients, Plant Extracts Being Researched For Cancer Risk Reduction...

A dietary herbal supplement containing lignans and indole-3-carbinol may reducethe risk of breast cancer by reducing free estrogen levels, suggest results from arandomized control trial.

A combination of HMR lignan, indole-3-carbinol, calcium glucarate, milk thistle, Schisandra chinesis and stinging nettle was associated with increased hydroxylation of the female hormone estrogen, which in turn is linked to a reduction in the risk ofhormone-sensitive breast cancer, according to findings published in Breast Cancer.

Hormone-sensitive estrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR) positive tumors are said to be the most common type diagnosed among breast cancer patients in the US. These tumors are stimulated to grow by the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

"In pre-menopausal women, consumption of a specific mixture of indole-3-carbinol and HMR lignan increased the mean urinary concentration of the estrogen metabolite [2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE)] and the mean urinary ratio of 2-OHE [toanother another estrogen metabolite 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1)], and this may reduce breast cancer risk," report scientists from Nutrasource Diagnostics and Hackensack University Medical Center.

"In postmenopausal women, consumption of a specific mixture of indole-3-carbinol and HMR lignan increased the mean urinary concentration of the estrogenmetabolite 2-OHE, and this may reduce breast cancer risk. However, the evidence for this is weaker than for premenopausal women because the 2-OHE:16alpha-OHE ratio did not increase significantly in this group."

Study details

The researchers recruited 47 pre-menopausal (average age 37, average BMI 27.2 kg/m2) and 49 post-menopausal women (average age 56.5, average BMI 27.5 kg/m2) and randomly assigned to receive either the herbal supplement or placebo for 28 days.

Results showed an increase in urine levels of 2-OHE, as well as in the 2:16alpha-OHE ratio for the herbal group, compared with placebo. An increase in 2-OHE was also observed in post-menopausal women receiving the herbal supplement, but the 2:16alpha-OHE ratio did not increase.

"Supplementation with a mixture of indole-3-carbinol and HMR lignan in women significantly increased estrogen C-2 hydroxylation," report the researchers. "This may constitute a mechanism for the reduction of breast cancer risk as well as risk for other estrogen-related cancers.

"Further studies with higher numbers of subjects are indicated," they added.

Source: Breast Cancer

"Effects of A Breast-Health Herbal Formula Supplement on Estrogen Metabolism in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women not Taking Hormonal Contraceptives or Supplements: A Randomized Controlled Trial"

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
Article Courtesy of Vitamin Power

Watercress May Suppress Development of Breast Cancer

Important New Research On How Phytochemicals & Nutritive Plant Extracts Are Beneficial For Cancer Risk Reduction

A compound found in watercress may suppress breast cancer development by stopping the function of a protein important in tumor development, according to new research. Phenylethyl Isothiocyanate, a compound found in watercress and other vegetables including broccoli and cabbage, may block key processes in cancer development by interfering with and 'turning off' the function of a protein called Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF), according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

"The research takes an important step towards understanding the potential health benefits of this crop, since it shows that eating watercress may interfere with a pathway that has already been tightly linked to cancer development," said research scientists from the University of Southampton. The study was supported by the Watercress Alliance.

Cancer Reduction Process
As tumors develop they need more blood, and begin to stimulate surrounding tissues to grow new vessels. It is suggested that phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC blocks the development of blood vessels to cancer cells by reducing the activity of HIF, known as an important positive regulator of blood vessel development.

PEITC has also been shown to induce apoptosis (cell death) in certain cancer cells, and, in some cases, even in cells that are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Dietary PEITC has been shown to decrease the translation regulator 4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1) a protein linked to reducing cancer cell survival and decreased activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF).

The researchers observed that watercress extracts inhibited cancer cell growth and HIF activity.

Levels of blood plasma PEITC in samples also showed raised levels following the ingestion of watercress.

The authors reported an analysis of 4E-BP1 in blood cells from participants showed significantly reduced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation up to eight hours after eating the watercress, noting that the function of HIF was altered noticeably.

The authors noted their study offers a "new insight into the potential anti-cancer effects of watercress."

"Although further investigations are required to confirm these findings, this pilot study suggests that dietary intake of watercress may be sufficient to modulate this potential anti-cancer pathway," wrote the researchers.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition (Published online)
"In vivo modulation of 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation by watercress: a pilot study"
Article courtesy of Vitamin Power