From: Bob Hurt

Posted with permission


This paper is about Ellagic acid, a derivative of berry seeds
(particularly red Meeker raspberries), and its effect on cancer.
Please spread it around to everyone you know, especially those
suffering from cancer.

Berry Good Health
By Susan Thorpe-Vargas Ph.D.

Multiple studies have discovered that phytonutrients found in
raspberries can protect us from cancer and can even shrink some types
of cancer tumors. These substances can also act as an antibacterial
and as an antiviral agent. Does this sound too good to be true? One
particular substance found in this natural "medicine chest", is a
series of compounds called ellagitannins. The highest levels are
found in raspberries, but the ellagitannins are also in certain types
of grapes, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and some nuts too.
Recent work (2001), published by Dr. Gary Stoner at Ohio State
University, showed that components in the seeds and berry, but
particularly ellagitannins, inhibited the initiation and
promotion/progression stages of esophageal cancer. This is an
extremely important finding, considering the potential benefits.


We do not as yet know all of the functions of the ellagitannins in
terms of cancer. A study at Hollings Cancer Center, Medical
University of South Carolina has shown one of the ways they work is
to "turn on" a normal cellular process called apoptosis. Apoptosis
is "science speak" for something called programmed cell death. This
natural cell death is just one of several ways our body protects us
from cancer. As we age, cellular replication mistakes can occur.
Cancer cells somehow become immune to the signals that cause cells to
self-destruct, so they become virtually immortal and reproduce
indefinitely.


The disease with a thousand faces


Cancer is not just one disease but is the general name for more than
200 different types of malignancies. Cancers are classified by the
tissue type from which they arise:

a.. osteosarcoma-bone cancer

b.. melanoma-skin cancer

c.. lymphoma-cancer of lymph nodes

d.. leukemia - blood cancer


Every cellular type has its own form of cancer. The one thing all
cancers share in common is uncontrolled growth. Cancer occurs when
cells lose control over critical checkpoints during the process of
one cell splitting and becoming two cells. This control over cellular
replication is in the hands of several specific types of genes.


Two classes of genes are suspected of being associated with the
occurrence of cancer. A mutation in a tumor suppressor gene is like
having faulty brakes in your car. Just as their name implies, tumor
suppressor genes function by making sure there are no mistakes in the
genes that are replicated prior to one cell becoming two. In
this "quality control" process, if errors are detected, the
cell is instructed not to divide. Thus, tumor suppressor genes put
the brakes on cellular division. The other class of genes thought to
be involved with preventing cancer is called proto-oncogenes.
Researchers have found that these genes "code" for proteins involved
in mechanisms that regulate the social behavior of cells. Signals
from those cells in the immediate environment induce their neighbors
to divide, differentiate and even undergo apoptosis. So, this type of
gene is involved in promoting the normal growth and division of cells
and could be likened to your car's accelerator. A change in the
genetic message - a mutation, can turn the proto-oncogene into an
oncogene and cause your accelerator to become stuck, thus
initiating "runaway" cellular replication.

Nevertheless, there seem to be no pattern to these mutations. What is
so frustrating for both researchers and clinicians alike is that
different combinations of mutations are found in different types of
cancer and even in cancers of supposedly the same type in different
patients. What is most important to remember is that cancer begins as
a single abnormal cell that begins to multiply out of control.


So, what causes most mutations?


We live in a polluted environment. For instance, the outgassing from
asphalt on a hot summer day produces the deadly carcinogen benzo{a}
pyrene, the same chemical found on meat that has been charcoal
broiled. This is just but one example. Exposure to such chemicals in
the environment can cause the mutations in our genetic material that
lead to cancer. Even normal metabolic processes like breathing and
exercise produce free radicals that can wreak havoc on our cellular
DNA. We can protect ourselves from mutations caused by environmental
toxins and free radicals by taking antioxidants. Guess what?
Ellagitannins are also very good antioxidants and chemoprotective
agents. Researchers at Wayne State University have a theory about how
ellagitannins might work. The liver produces enzymes that rid the
body of toxins. These enzymes break down or chemically change toxic
substances we ingest or inhale so that they can be excreted. During
this detox process, the breakdown products, called metabolites, are
frequently more damaging then the original substance. It appears that
ellagitannins are able to safeguard the liver from damage caused by
these breakdown products. Another theory held by some investigators
is that ellagitannins are able to protect our genetic material from
certain types of chemical reactions that lead to misreading of
damaged DNA.


Why does chemotherapy and radiation eventually stop working?

It is becoming clear that normal therapeutic cancer treatment works
by turning on apoptosis. We used to think that chemotherapy and
radiation killed rapidly dividing cells, which is why these
procedures were able to shrink tumors. However, at some point these
treatments begin to lose their effectiveness. Why is that? Scott
Lowe, a research scientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory may
have found the answer. Instead of killing these cells, chemotherapy
and radiation damage their cellular DNA. This alerts the cell
watchdogs that control the cell cycle that something is wrong and
tells the cell to stop dividing or to commit suicide. Therefore,
chemotherapy and radiation act somewhat like a "vaccination" that
works by helping the body help itself. The evidence for Dr.
Lowe's theory is pretty convincing, because when these treatments
start to fail, researchers have found that the genes that control
apoptosis are no longer functioning.


Why don't ellagitannins induce normal cells to commit suicide?

As we know, cancer cells become immortal, this means that they are
able to replicate themselves after something called the Hayflick
limit has been reached. The Hayflick limit is the number of "allowed"
cellular replications. Each cell type has its own limit. Human cancer
studies show that mutations in the tumor suppressor gene called p53
account for many of the tumors found. One of the functions of this
gene is that it normally prevents cells with damaged DNA from
proceeding through the cell cycle. The presence of the protein
product encoded by p53 turns on the waf-1 gene. The waf-1 gene
produces a protein that normally inhibits the activity of several
similar cellular proteins called kinases. These proteins are involved
in stopping cell cycle progression. A mutation in either the p53 or
waf-1 gene can cause the loss of that "emergency brake" function and
allow uncontrolled growth. However, only "damaged" cells are induced
to commit suicide and so normal cells are not effected.


An Antibacterial and an Antiviral agent


Ellagitannins can act as antibacterial agents and as antiviral agents
too, and now we know how. Think of the genetic material of bacteria
as a rubber band that is all twisted up. In order to replicate, the
DNA must untwist itself through a process requiring the enzyme
gyrase. Ellagitannins inhibits gyrase activity so replication of the
bacterial DNA is restricted. Importantly, bacteria cannot easily
become resistant to this type of antibacterial action. Resistance to
antibiotics has become a real concern to the international medical
community. A federal government task force noted that antibiotic
resistance was "a growing menace to all people" but children, the
elderly and those with weakened immune systems are especially at risk.

Besides its antibacterial action, ellagitannins have antiviral
activity also. Viruses do not have the ability to replicate
themselves. Instead they must "hijack" the host cell and insert their
own DNA into the host cell genome. This requires an enzyme called
integrase and the ellagitannins inhibit this enzyme also.


Citizen: Heal Thyself. (With apologies to Mr. Hippocrates)


People are turning to alternative forms of medical treatment and
prevention. Not only is the medical delivery system failing but, our
costs for health services are rising at an astronomical rate. What
this means for the medical consumer is that we need to be more
responsible for our own health. We need to look at prevention instead
of always looking to health care providers to "fix" what
exposure to a toxic environment and/or years of unhealthy lifestyle
practices have wrought. The quality of medical care is uneven at
best. Too often, our insurance providers do not cover necessary tests
and procedures, especially those of a preventative nature. However,
we can become involved in our own health care. A diet rich in fresh
fruits and vegetables is a good start towards preventing disease.
Unfortunately, current tests show that our soil is severely
lacking in many minerals or electrolytes and other components that
are essential for proper nutrition. It is necessary to sometimes take
supplements as it may not be physically or economically possible to
eat enough food to get the proper nutrition. In addition, the cost of
fresh fruits and vegetables can be prohibitive. For instance, unless
you grow your own raspberries, the cost of the American Cancer
Institute's recommended daily bowl of the whole berries could
run as high as $300 a month. Not only that, but research has shown
that the
ellagitannin content is much higher in the seeds then in the fruit. So
nutraceutical supplements may be the answer. Raspberry seeds contain
many more times the ellagic acid than the fruit at one-tenth the
cost. It's your choice, whatever form you may decide to use- the take
home message is: "Eat your ellagitannins!"



*Disclaimer: The above information is not meant to diagnose,
prescribe or cure any physical ailment. It is meant FOR EDUCATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY. If you have a medical condition, it is strongly
recommended that you contact your qualified, health care
practitioner.