We know that Peaches and plums are both high in Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, and Vitamins A, C, Niacin, and Folate and antioxidant rich. A recent study performed at Texas A&M University revealed that peaches and plums may present an even sweeter, juicier treat in their ability to fight breast cancer. According to research scientists Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos and Dr. David Byrne from AgriLife Research at Texas A&M, extracts found in commercial varieties of peaches and plums have been to kill breast cancer cells while not harming normal cells.
The AgriLife research scientists identified two phenolic compounds (slightly acidic and may be associated with traits such as aroma, taste or color) within the Rich Lady peach and Black Splendor (commercial varieties) plum that are responsible for killing the cancer cells. Phenols are organic compounds that occur in fruits and may affect traits such as aroma, taste or color. Stone fruits such as peaches and plums have especially high levels of phenols.
Byrne and Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos originally studied the antioxidants and phytonutrients in plums and found them to match or exceed the blueberry which had been considered superior to other fruits in those categories.
"These extracts killed the cancer cells but not the normal cells," Cisneros-Zevallos said...
As per the claim by the researchers, two specific phenolic acid components - chlorogenic and neochlorogenic ( structures, source :ChemBlink) - were responsible for killing the cancer cells while not affecting the normal cells. Researchers add that the two compounds are very common in fruits, the researchers said, but the stone fruits such as plums and peaches have especially high levels. The team said laboratory tests also confirmed that the compounds prevented cancer from growing in animals given the compounds.
"So this is very, very attractive from the point of view of being an alternative to typical chemotherapy which kills normal cells along with cancerous ones," Byrne claims..
Researchers conclude that, phenolic acids present (chlorogenic- left above structure and neo-chlorogenic acids-right below structure) have potential as chemopreventive dietary compounds because of the relatively high growth inhibition exerted on the estrogen-independent MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cell line and low toxicity exerted in the normal MCF-10A cells.
Dr. Byrne plans to examine more fully the lines of the varieties that were tested to see how these compounds might be incorporated into his research of breeding plums and peaches. Dr. Cisneros-Zevallos will continue testing these extracts and compounds in different types of cancer and conduct further studies of the molecular mechanisms involved. Hope they come up with substantial results to support their claim....
