Fruit extracts and skin cancer

[Guest guest]

ahb(Agora Health Books)

 

Following is some important news about skin cancer. What you read about

the role that cherries, grapes, and pomegranates may be able to play in

fighting this type of cancer may surprise you. A fruit salad may be the

key to preventing cancer!

 

Skin Deep

 

You might say that a variety of fruits were on the " menu " at a Phoenix

conference titled (take a deep breath) the American Association for

Cancer Research Second Annual International Conference on Frontiers in

Cancer Prevention Research. (Whew!)

 

Three different research projects exploring natural methods for treating

skin cancer were presented at the conference. Two of the studies were

conducted on mice, and the third was a laboratory study using human skin

cells. But each of the studies had one thing in common: the active

agents that were tested all came from fruits.

 

One study showed the skin cancer-fighting effectiveness of perillyl

alcohol, a compound found in tart cherries and the peel of citrus

fruits; another study demonstrated how the polyphenol, resveratrol,

found in grapes might limit skin cancer growth; and the third study

indicated that the polyphenols in pomegranate fruit extract may be

effective against the disease as well.

 

Of course, each of these studies is preliminary and requires further

research before anyone can reasonably suggest that we should start

rubbing down our skin with pomegranate juice and orange peels.

Fortunately, however, we already know about one natural botanical

treatment that shows great potential in addressing a common condition

that often leads to skin cancer.

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Heading it off at the pass

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More than a million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the

U.S. this year. And by some estimates, nearly everyone who reaches their

" golden " years will experience keratoses; those patches of scaly,

sun-damaged skin that often become cancerous.

But if your doctor should tell you that your have skin cancer, don't

assume the worst.

The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer and squamous

cell cancer, both of which appear on the skin as small lumps or sore

spots that don't heal properly. These are superficial and

non-life-threatening cancers unless allowed to advance over many years.

And the removal of squamous and basal lesions is one of the most common

outpatient surgeries performed today.

But before basal or squamous cells develop, there may be a way to head

these conditions off by treating keratoses.

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Hard target

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Glycoalkaloids are chemical compounds found in an Australian botanical

called the devil's apple plant. Historically, the use of

glycoalkaloid-rich plants (members of the Solanum family) in addressing

skin conditions goes back to the second century A.D.

 

As a treatment for keratoses, glycoalkaloids are thought to work by

exploiting structural differences between healthy and sun-damaged skin

cells. As skin cells become damaged, the cell walls become more

permeable, allowing glycoalkoloids to penetrate into abnormal cells.

Once inside the cell walls, glycoalkaloids release enzymes that

apparently break down the cells from the inside out. As the abnormal

cells die, they're replaced by healthy skin cells, which don't absorb

the glycoalkaloids, thus avoiding their destructive effects.

In a therapy of this kind, the ideal is a " targeted therapy " - one that

attacks abnormal cells while sparing healthy cells. And that appears to

be what glycoalkaloids may be able to do when applied to sun-damaged

skin.

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Catch it early

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For more information about using glycoalkaloids for keratoses, there are

several Internet sources that sell glycoalkaloid products; just search

using the phrase " sun-damaged " along with " glycoalkaloids. " I've also

seen it on the shelf in my local health food store.

In whatever way you may choose to address sun-damaged skin, the

important thing is to treat it early. So if you're concerned about rough

or flaky spots on your skin, talk to your doctor to come up with a plan

to treat those spots before they turn into more serious problems.

 

And one last note: I've purposely focused on keratoses and the highly

treatable skin cancers that follow that condition. Of far greater

concern is the skin cancer called melanoma. This is a very dangerous

cancer, especially when it's not diagnosed early. Melanoma is usually

associated with moles, so if you experience any irregularity in a mole

-such as changing shape, color, or size - call your doctor immediately.

Melanoma cannot be reversed with any of the extracts I've mentioned here

today.

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Sources:

" Fruits Offer Powerful Protection From Skin Cancer " American Association

for Cancer Research, Science Daily, 10/30/03, sciencedaily.com

" Study: Fruit Ingredients Affect Skin Cancer in Mice " Reuters, 10/29/03,

reuters.com The Skin Cancer Foundation, skincancer.org

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