New Cancer Inhibitor in the Limelight: Pterostilbene, Move Aside Resveratrol
Pterostilbene (pronounced “tare-o-STILL-bean”) is a compound found in a genus of shrubs that includes many types of berries (including blueberries) and grapes that has been cited for its many health benefits:
- pterostilbene can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease
- pterostilbene is a powerful antioxidant that shows cancer-fighting properties similar to those of resveratrol
Such studies have been led by USDA/ARS Chemist Agnes Rimando.
Her recent study with colleagues at Poland’s University of Medical Science which tested pterostilbene (a derivative of resveratrol) and other resveratrols confirmed pterostilbene’s anti-cancer properties.
”…targeted an enzyme called cytochrome P450, which sets off a variety of compounds–known as “procarcinogens–that can turn substances such as cigarette smoke and pesticides into cancer-causing agents. Cytochromes are a factor in people’s varying responses to drugs and toxins entering their bodies.
While more studies are needed to explain the process, in this study, pterostilbene showed strong inhibitory activity (much more than resveratrol) against a particular form of cytochrome P450.
Source: USDA/ARS
[Photo Credit: www.cpq.net]
Tags: anti-cancer, antioxidant, berries, pterostilbene, resveratrolRelated Stories
POSTED IN: ~ Anti-cancer treatments ~
3 opinions for New Cancer Inhibitor in the Limelight: Pterostilbene, Move Aside Resveratrol
DrJohnLaPuma Healthy News » Blog Archive » Grand Rounds: Diet and Food.
Jan 9, 2007 at 12:23 pm
[…] Ruth at Eating Fabulous touts Forbes’ 9 top surprisingly healthy foods from “dark chocolate for your heart to turmeric for your colon cancer”. Self-experimenter Seth Roberts, on his Shangri-La Diet blog asks if drinking olive oil is healthy, and indeed, Ancel Keys documented its daily use in the Seven Countries longevity study. And Gloria Gamat tells us that eating more fish means less chance of dementia {(is it the DHA? do Mrs. Paul’s count? is it the pterostilbene? (a derivative of resveratrol) }. […]
Eating Fabulous » Food and Diet at the Medical Blogging Grand Rounds
Jan 9, 2007 at 5:30 pm
[…] Gloria Gamat from Straight from the Doc highlights a study that says people who ate the most fish on a weekly basis were almost 50% less likely to develop dementia or mental deterioration. In the Cancer Commentary, she also mentions the anti-cancer properties of pterostilbene, a derivative of resveratrol found in some berries and grapes. […]
anthony
Jan 29, 2007 at 9:11 am
For detailed info on Resveratrol, folks should look at the online encyclopedia here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol
Lots of details on what foods have it naturally.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: