Ellagic Acid and Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death known the world over. It affects various parts of the human body and for years now, scientists and medical practitioners have been looking for a "miracle" cure to this traitorous disease.

A person affected with cancer has cancer cells or tumors caused by carcinogens. In the continuous research conducted amidst the fight against cancer, studies have shown that ellagic acid may spoil, stunt or stop the growth and spreading of certain cancer-causing carcinogens.

It also has shown such promise that scientists are not discounting the fact that this may be the cure that they are waiting for to treat and prevent cancer.

The Basics

Ellagic acid is basically known as a "polyphenol" compound. Polyphenol is the substance found mostly in plants and this substance gives some plants their color. A tree leaf, for example, turns brown during fall and green during spring. Polyphenol is the substance responsible for the seasonal color change of a tree's leaves.

Being a polyphenol compound, its considered as an antioxidant with antibacterial properties-which can be applied to strengthen and improve the body's immune system.

Sources

Forty years ago, ellagic acid became popular in the medical community because of its positive effects on blood clotting.

Due to its promising potential to be the main ingredient in the fight against cancer, ellagic acid is currently being nurtured and further studied.

Here are some fruits and vegetables containing ellagic acid:

strawberries
cranberries
blackberries
raspberries
pecans
walnuts
pomegranates
other plant food

These plants use ellagic acid to rid themselves of pests and prevent them from having infections.

Such plant foods, fruits and vegetables produce ellagic acid and glucose which are easily absorbed by the human body. In addition, berries and promegnates are found to have the most amount.

Currently, the extracts from these food sources containing ellagic acid are used in dietary supplements. They come in liquid, capsule or powder form and since they are used mostly as dietary supplements, as of now they are not yet proven effective in the curing or preventing of a specific disease.

Advantages and Disadvantages

1. Studies have shown that ellagic acid stunts the growth of cancer cells. Although further research needs to be done in order to prove that it can actually treat and prevent cancer, the anti-cancer properties that this substance has shows much potential.

2. Mainly acts as an antioxidant and has been known to cause death in tumor or cancer cells. Specifically, it aids in the removal of certain cancer-causing substances included in the patient's blood.

3. It also shows in studies conducted on laboratory animals that ellagic acid may reduce defects on birth, liver problems, heart conditions, promotes and strengthens the immune system and aids in fast wound healing.

Recent studies conducted by researchers in Italy found men and women who undergo chemotherapy to treat cancer can use ellagic acid to reduce the side effects of the treatment.

Chemotherapy is not known to be "kind" to the patient who undergoes such therapy. With the aid of ellagic acid, these side effects are reduced and research is still being done as to whether it can also slow the spreading of cancer cells on a patient's body.

4. Other medical professionals found that ellagic acid can fight the substance that cause the spreading of tumor or cancer cells.

On the other hand, since most of these positive effects provided by ellagic acid are based on tests conducted in medical laboratories, it has not been entirely tested on humans yet.

Although its mainly found in fruits such as berries, a normal diet cannot include these fruits alone. A cancer patient still needs a balanced and healthy diet-which can and should include ellagic acid-containing foods and supplements.

Currently, its available mostly in the form of dietary supplements. Cancer patients who are taking other medications should consult a professional before deciding to take this dietary supplement despite of its potential cancer-curing effects.

However, it does show such promising results in the fight against cancer that medical professionals are not discounting the possibility of ellagic acid turning into the miracle drug for cancer.

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