Yesterday I saw a news about a very interesting study for our health: "The reddest, smooth and round the tomatoes are, the greater its power against colon cancer is".
Effectively, researchers at the University of Almeria have observed the effect of different types of tomato, in colon cancer cell cultures . According to the scientists, any tomato variety prevents the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells, at very low concentrations. But the study, carried out in in vitro tests, reveals that the reddest, smooth and round tomatoes are the ones that best prevent its development.
Researchers from the group of Chemistry of Biomolecules and Food Processes, at the University of Almeria, have confirmed in vitro cell lines, that tomato extracts have activity against colon cancer. In addition, they have proven that some varieties act more intensely than others, against the proliferation of cancer cells. The study also indicates the benefit of olive oil, in conjunction with tomato.
University of Almeria (South eastern Spain)
In the article, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, the researchers explain how certain tomato compounds, such as lycopene, act against the development of tumor cells, originating from the colon, preventing its proliferation.
Scientists have also included tests, where the joint effect, in the cell cultures of tomato carotenoids with olive oil, has been analysed. These trials confirm significantly higher inhibitory effects than those obtained from each of them acting separately. According to these experts, there are many different compounds with antitumor action, in olive oil, such as polyphenols, which are added to the action of bioactive tomato substances.
In research, developed in vitro, they have observed how any tomato variety prevents the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells, at very low concentrations. However, the more colored varieties have a higher capacity, as they contain a higher proportion of lycopene and fatty acids.
"While all tomatoes provide bioactive compounds to the body, these researches mark the difference between different varieties and show how olive oil amplifies its intensity. This confirms that certain culinary preparations of the Mediterranean diet, such as gazpacho or salads, can be excellent allies in the prevention of some types of cancer", says the researcher of the University of Almería, José Luis Guil Guerrero, one of the authors of the Article.
Within the Mediterranean diet, they are numerous recipes that unify both ingredients: gazpacho, salmorejo, salads, fried tomatoes, juice, etc. Therefore, this research further confirms previous studies on the beneficial effects, attributed to this typical southern European dietary pattern.
During the trials, the researchers worked with HT-29 cell lines, a line of human colorectal cancer. All tomato varieties were analysed, in order to know their composition in bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, sterols, phenolic acids and fatty acids. Thus, they were able to determine the action of different concentrations of these extracts, against cancer cells, comparing them with controls of these cells, without adding extracts and against other non-tumor cells, also coming from the colon.
The results showed that, while tomato compounds act against tumor cells, healthy cells are not compromised by their action. On the other hand, it has been confirmed that some tomato types are more efficient than others, in this activity. Specifically, the reddest and rounder ones are those that produce a more active response, against tumor cells, in vitro.
In this same line, another of the tests carried out has aimed at vegetables, such as arugula and canon, which also exert antitumor actions, against colorectal cancer cells. In this case, it was found that extracts of arugula not only inhibit proliferation, but also affect the integrity of tumor cells, causing remarkable damage to their membranes.
Well, I hope that you have considered this research as important as I have.
Until my next post, kind regards,
Luis.
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