As noted in the March 2008 issue of Agricultural Research, ongoing research led by Susan J. Zunino, a research molecular biologist for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, has been investigating the anticancer properties of phytochemicals in a variety of fruit and spices. Results have shown that some of these phytochemicals have anticancer abilities.
Zunino and fellow researchers have found that carnosol from rosemary, curcumin from turmeric, resveratrol from grapes, and ellagic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin in strawberries all display anticancer properties. Preliminary findings have shown that these phytochemicals interfere with typical behavior of mitochondria, cellular components responsible for converting cell energy. Without requisite energy, the cancer cells die.
The researchers note that further study is required in order to better understand the processes at work in these controlled, laboratory experiments.
Related experiments have shown that phytochemicals also might play a role in helping prevent type 1 diabetes.
