Cancer
Study: Apple polyphenols may prevent colon cancer
By Ben Wasserman
Apr 25, 2008 - 5:26:38 PM

FRIDAY April 25, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Apple extracts full of polyphenols may protect cells against some toxicological insults that would otherwise potentially lead to development of colon cancer, according to a study scheduled to be published in the June 15, 2008 issue of International Journal of Cancer.

Apples are known to have flavonoids that may potentially reduce cancer risk by acting antioxidative or antiproliferative and affecting gene expression, according to the background information of the study.

The study was meant to investigate whether polyphenols from apples modulate expression of genes related to colon cancer prevention in preneoplastic cells derived from colon adenoma (LT97).

Apple extracts were found to affect 30 and 46 genes including some phase II genes such as GSTP1, GSTT2, GSTA4, UGT1A1, UGT2B7 in cells treated with apple extracts.