Okra shows promise in fighting breast cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer
Okra has killed 72% Of human breast cancer cells in a recent study and also shown promising results against other cancers.
Okra is a flowering plant with edible green pods containing seeds. It is also known as ladies’ fingers, bhindi, bamia, or gumbo.
It is usually grown in tropical, subtropical and warmer more temperate regions around the world. It is a popular health food as it is a rich source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, calcium and folates. It is also very high in anti-oxidants.
Recent research in Brazil has shown exciting results with regard to a newly discovered lectin in okra (i). Lectins are carb-binding proteins and are present in both plants and animals. Lectins support a variety of immunological functions within those plants and animals.
This specific lectin is called Abelmoschus Esculentus and the reseachers found that in in-vitro tests on human breast cancer cells (MCF7) it killed 72% of the cells by causing apoptosis (programmed cell death). In addition, it also slowed down the growth of the cells by 63%.
This promising lectin was found within the okra seeds themselves. Other health benefits from this speific lectin are found in its anti-inflammatory properties and also pain relief qualities. The researchers have said this compound is a “potential therapeutic to combat human breast cancer.”
Help Against Skin Cancer
However the benefits don’t stop with the seeds. The skin of the okra pods also contain a pectin compound. Pectins are are found in and around the cell walls of plants, and helps to bind those cells together.
Okra pectin has a unique compound (ii) which in studies was found to halt the growth of highly metastatic melanoma cells in mice (B16F10) by 75% just 48 hours after treatment and the apoptosis in this case was twenty three times as fast.
Help Against Prostate Cancer
Research studying data collected over a ten year period found that men eating a ‘Southern’ dietary pattern (characterized by eating okra, grits, cornbread, beans, rice and sweet potatoes) experienced 40% less prostate cancer than those not eating such a diet.
However this so called southern diet, apart from okra, beans and sweet potatoes, also contained high portions of red meat and bacon – both of which are noted to increase cancer risk. In addition this eating pattern protected the men from prostate cancer far more than a vegetable and fruit rich diet did, even though “it contained 24% less fruit and vegetables (29 servings weekly on the Southern diet vs. 38 servings weekly on the fruit & vegetable rich diet).”
More research is being carried out to see if Okra really could be a new super charged anti-cancer food. In the meantime it cannot harm to include it as part of a well-balanced healthy diet, which should already contain a wide variety of vegetables.
Reference> http://www.edenprescription.com/Okra.html
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