Extracts of the bitter melon fruit appears to have breast cancer blocking powers.
Extracts of the bitter melon fruit appears to have breast cancer blocking powers.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Although there are effective drugs for treating advanced stages of breast cancers, women eventually develop resistance. One of the approaches to control breast cancer is prevention through diet, which inhibits one or more neoplastic events and reduces cancer risk.
Bitter melon, sometimes called bitter gourd or wild cucumber, is grown in Asia, Africa and South America. Its extract has been used for many years in folk medicines as a remedy for diabetes and infections.
To assess the efficacy of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extract (BME) as an anticancer agent, researchers used human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and primary human mammary epithelial cells.
It was found that BME treatment of breast cancer cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis of breast cancer cells was accompanied by increased poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and caspase activation. Subsequent studies showed that BME treatment of breast cancer cells inhibited survivin and claspin expression, meaning bitter melon extracts blocked the growth of cancer developing cells.
Although bitter melon appears to be promising as an anti-cancer agent, trials in animals and then humans are still needed to confirm the findings, noted the researchers.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Although there are effective drugs for treating advanced stages of breast cancers, women eventually develop resistance. One of the approaches to control breast cancer is prevention through diet, which inhibits one or more neoplastic events and reduces cancer risk.
Bitter melon, sometimes called bitter gourd or wild cucumber, is grown in Asia, Africa and South America. Its extract has been used for many years in folk medicines as a remedy for diabetes and infections.
To assess the efficacy of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extract (BME) as an anticancer agent, researchers used human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and primary human mammary epithelial cells.
It was found that BME treatment of breast cancer cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis of breast cancer cells was accompanied by increased poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and caspase activation. Subsequent studies showed that BME treatment of breast cancer cells inhibited survivin and claspin expression, meaning bitter melon extracts blocked the growth of cancer developing cells.
Although bitter melon appears to be promising as an anti-cancer agent, trials in animals and then humans are still needed to confirm the findings, noted the researchers.
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