Recent scientific research indicates that the pomegranate may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer including breast cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.
- Breast cancer: Research using both mouse mammary organ culture and human breast cancer cells in vitro has demonstrated the anticancer effects of pomegranate extracts.
- Skin cancer: Dr. Hasan Mukhtar and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin have shown that a topically-applied pomegranate fruit extract can block skin tumor formation in mice.
- Prostrate and other cancers: Other studies demonstrate the significant anti-tumor activity of pomegranate-derived materials in prostate cancer, and the positive effect of extracts of pomegranate in promoting differentiation, that is, the ability of cancer cells to revert back to normal cell functioning.
- Lung cancer: Pomegranates have been shown to be the richest source of a natural substance called ellagic acid. According to master herbalist and certified nutritionist, Donald Yance in his book Herbal Medicine, Healing & Cancer, ellagic acid “inhibits cancer formation and is believed to inhibit cancer mutation… Ellagic acid is particularly effective in the inhibition of lung cancer caused by tobacco.”
- Retarding tumor growth: The pomegranate also contains anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins (flavonoids), substances that have been shown to reduce angiogenesis, the tumor’s ability to develop the blood vessels it needs to grow.