The Cancer-killing Properties of Breadfruit
Breadfruit is closely related to jackfruit, mulberries, figs, and breadnut. This evergreen tree is commonly found in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Southern India. Its fruit appears on twigs and the terminal end of small branches, features round or globular shape, weigh about 1 to 5 kg and covered with spikes similar to that in breadnut, jackfruit, and durian.
Breadfruit’s Cancer-Prevention And Cancer-Killing Actions
Vietnamese scientists have conducted a study wherein they have found that compounds present in methanol extracts of breadfruit leaves are 100% toxic against PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, its hardwood extracts were also discovered by Indonesian scientists to have the ability to induce apoptosis and sub-G1 phase formation in breast cancer (T47D) cells.
In a Chinese study, a geranyl chalcone derivative, isolespeol which is found in breadfruit can induce apoptosis in SW 872 human liposarcoma cells. Liposarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises in fat cells in soft tissues such as that inside the thigh.
Furthermore, in a separate study, results revealed that breadfruit leaves have chemical components that can increase the expression of apoptosis-inducing proteins such as FasL, Fas and p53 proteins, thereby leaving cytotoxic (toxic to cells, cancer-killing) and apoptotic (programmed cell death) effects on human cancer cells.
No comments: