prostate cancer

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Bioflavonoid helps inhibit prostate cancer

In a report published online on October 18 2005 in the FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Journal, researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland revealed that the bioflavonoid apigenin offered protection against prostate cancer tumor growth in mice. Apigenin is found in a number of fruits and vegetables as well as the herbs chamomile, lemon balm, perilla and parsley.

Assistant professor at the Case School of Medicine Department of Urology, Sanjay Gupta PhD and colleagues orally administered a low or high dose of apigenin or an inert substance to groups of mice for ten weeks. After two weeks of treatment, prostate tumors were implanted in each mouse. A second experiment designed to assess apigenin's efficacy as a treatment,administered the compound from two weeks following tumor implantation until the study's conclusion.

The research team found that mice that received apigenin experienced a reduction in tumor volume and weight with animals who received the higher dose experiencing the greatest benefit. The higher dose of apigenin resulted in a 59 percent inhibition in tumor volume in the first experiment, and in a 53 percent inhibition in the second experiment compared to growth observed in the control animals. Dr Gupta and colleagues also found an associated between apigenin and decreased insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels, which, when elevated, is associated with an increased risk of prostate and other cancers. Conversely, insulin-like growth factor binding protein levels, which reduce these same cancer risks, was increased in the animals who received apigenin.

Dr Gupta concluded, "Apigenin may prove useful in the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer by shutting off the IGF signaling that leads to prostate cancer cell growth and/or development. Our findings suggest that apigenin could be developed as a promising agent against prostate cancer."