Researchers identify natural substances in apple peels, turmeric and grapes that disrupt tumor metabolism in laboratory models.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A study published in npj Precision Oncology has identified three naturally occurring plant compounds that significantly inhibited prostate cancer growth in laboratory models by targeting the tumor’s metabolic fuel supply.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin examined 142 natural compounds using high-throughput screening techniques and found that ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol were the most effective at limiting tumor cell growth. Ursolic acid is found in apple peels, curcumin is the active compound in turmeric and resveratrol occurs in red grapes and certain berries.
The research focused on glutamine, an amino acid that prostate cancer cells rely on to sustain rapid growth. According to the study, combinations of ursolic acid with either curcumin or resveratrol significantly reduced cancer cells’ ability to consume glutamine. When deprived of this nutrient source, tumor growth slowed in both mouse-derived and human prostate cancer cell models.
Individually, each compound showed limited impact. However, when combined, the effects were substantially stronger. The researchers reported no toxic side effects in the animal models used in the study, a contrast to the well-documented adverse effects commonly associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer diagnosed in American men after skin cancer. Conventional treatments typically include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which can damage healthy tissue along with cancer cells. The study’s findings add to a growing body of research exploring plant-derived compounds as potential adjuncts or alternatives in oncology.
The investigation was led by Stefano Tiziani of the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Nutritional Sciences. By screening a wide array of plant chemicals, the team identified the three compounds as particularly effective at interrupting cancer metabolism, specifically through blocking glutamine uptake.
Resveratrol has been studied for decades for its potential anti-cancer properties across multiple tumor types, including breast, lung and colorectal cancers. Curcumin is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor characteristics. Ursolic acid, though less extensively researched, emerged in this study as a key inhibitor of prostate cancer cell metabolism.
The researchers noted that the concentrations used in the laboratory experiments were higher than those typically obtained through diet alone. While the findings suggest potential protective benefits from consuming foods such as apples with peels, turmeric, red grapes and berries, further research is needed to determine appropriate dosing, bioavailability and clinical effectiveness in humans.
Experts caution that while laboratory and animal findings are encouraging, clinical trials are necessary before such compounds can be recommended as treatment strategies. The study highlights the importance of continued investigation into how dietary components may influence cancer biology, particularly in diseases that often progress slowly and may be influenced by metabolic factors.
As research advances, scientists continue to examine whether plant-based compounds could play a complementary role in cancer prevention or therapy, either through diet or in more concentrated therapeutic formulations.
Watch this video about how ursolic acid, curcumin and resveratrol starve prostate cancer cells.
This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com.
Source: Natural News
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