Study Claim

These authors suggest that resveratrol, an phenolic antioxidant extracted from dark berries, can inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro.

Title, Publication, Authors, Affiliation

Resveratrol induces apoptosis and inhibits angiogenesis in human breast cancer xenografts in vivo.

Cancer Lett. 2006 Jan 8;231(1):113-22.

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden.

Abstract

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and wine, is considered a potential cancer chemopreventive agent. Resveratrol has been shown to induce transcription via both ERalpha and ERbeta. We observed significantly lower tumor growth, decreased angiogenesis, and increased apoptotic index in ERalpha- ERbeta+ MDA-MB-231 tumors in resveratrol-treated nude mice compared with controls. In vitro we found a significant increase in apoptosis in resveratrol-treated MDA-MB-231 cells in addition to significantly reduced extracellular levels of VEGF. This study supports the potential use of resveratrol as a chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancers.

Why this is of interest to Berry Wise and Consumers

Resveratrol, a phenolic antioxidant found in darkly colored berries such as the blueberry, blackberry and red grape. In a laboratory model of cancer using mice, these scientists showed that resveratrol stimulated the degeneration ("apoptosis") of breast tumor cells. Such results indicate that a diet of dark berries could inhibit cancer growth in humans.

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