|
Turmeric,
garlic, others offer protection against aflatoxin 'damage', breast cancer Source of
Article: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/natural_health/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=230709&ptitle=Turmeric,%20garlic,%20others%20offer%20protection%20against%20aflatoxin%20'damage',%20breast%20cancer Researchers have
demonstrated a regular diet including spices such as turmeric, garlic,
ginger, cabbage, onion, green tea and apiaceous vegetables like carrots
reverses damage caused by aflatoxin (produced by a fungus) poisoning and its
complications; as well as reduce breast cancer risk in women exposed to
hormone replacement therapy. CHUKWUMA MUANYA reports. IN recent times there have been
several reports of food poisoning with aflatoxins that led to the death of
many, and hospitalization of others. Three weeks ago, it was widely reported
that a family of six all died after eating a meal of amala (probably
contaminated with aflatoxins). Aflatoxins, are naturally
occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a
fungus/mould, most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Amˆlˆ is a thick brown paste or porridge
made from yam skin, which had been peeled, cleaned, dried and then blended.
It is eaten in West Africa, primarily among the Yorb‡s of Nigeria. Recent medical researches
indicate that a regular diet including spices such as garlic and turmeric,
and apiaceous vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, celery and parsley
reduces the carcinogenic effects of aflatoxin, and breast cancer risk in
women exposed to hormone replacement therapy. Previous studies have found
that postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin
hormone replacement therapy have increased their risk of developing
progestin-accelerated breast tumors. A Consultant Mycologist at
the Department of Botany University of Lagos, Akoka, Dr. Dotun Adekunle
described aflatoxins as toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known.
According to the World
Health Organization (WHO) Food Safety Newsletter, "Exposure to
mycotoxins can produce both acute and chronic toxicities ranging from death
to deleterious effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary and
digestive systems. Mycotoxins may also be carcinogenic (cancer-causing),
mutagenic (a mutagenic agent is one which is capable of causing mutations. "It may also, but does
not necessarily, act as a carcinogen (cancer-causing), teratogenic (able to
disturb the growth and development of an embryo or foetus) and
immuno-suppresive (suppresses the immune system). It also has a synergistic
effect with the hepatitis B virus in the etiology of liver cancer and could
interact with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS). "Epidemiological
studies have shown a strong correlation between exposure to aflatoxins and
primary liver cancer. Aflatoxin exposure in children is also associated with
child stunting and child neurological impairment." A neurological impairment
or disability may affect an individual's speech, motor skills, vision,
memory, muscle actions and learning abilities. Indeed, spices have been
shown to protect the liver against aflatoxin poisoning, and the breast from
cancer. India researchers found that food additives such as turmeric, and
active ingredient curcumin (diferuloyl methane), asafoetida (flavouring
agent), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ellagic
acid inhibited the mutagenesis induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (0.5 ?g/plate)
in Salmonella tester strains TA 98 and TA 100. Also, University of
Missouri, United States, researchers have found that curcumin, a popular
Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for
women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy. Turmeric is a spice that
comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family,
Zingaberaceae. In traditional medicine, turmeric has been used for its
medicinal properties for various indications and through different routes of
administration, including topically, orally, and by inhalation. In Nigeria, it is called
atale pupa in Yoruba; gangamau in Hausa; nwandumo in Ebonyi; ohu boboch in
Enugu (Nkanu East); gigir in Tiv; magina in Kaduna; turi in Niger State;
onjonigho in Cross River (Meo tribe). Turmeric, also known as
curcuma, produces a root that is used to produce the vibrant yellow spice
used as a culinary spice so often used in curry dishes. Previous studies indicate
that the Asian spice cultivated in Nigeria and found in many curries, has a
long history of use in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and relieving
pain, preventing diabetes and heart failure, and inducing weight loss. It is exciting to note that
there are suppliers of high curcumin content, organically certified turmeric
here in Nigeria, produced in Ogun State. Eurobridge Industries Ltd have one
of the largest plantations in West Africa for rich, golden pure turmeric,_ and
offer it conveniently packaged in 100gm sealed bags, available at 3, Balogun
street, Oregun industrial Estate, Ikeja, Lagos (daradarang@yahoo.co.uk), and
at many leading supermarkets and stores. One of turmeric's
components is curcumin, a type of phytochemical known as a polyphenol.
Research findings suggest that phytochemicals, which are the chemicals found
in plants, appear to help prevent disease. As the bioactive component of
turmeric, curcumin is readily absorbed for use by the body. The study titled
"Protective effect of food additives on aflatoxin-induced mutagenicity
and hepatocarcinogenicity", was published in Cancer Letters by K. B.
Soni and R. Kuttan of Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Naga, Trichur,
Kerala State, India; and M. Lahiri, P. Chackradeo, and S. V. Bhide of Tata
Memorial Centre, Bombay, India. According to the study,
turmeric and curcumin, which were the most active, inhibited mutation
frequency by more than 80 per cent at concentrations of 2g/plate. Other food
additives were also significantly effective. Dietary administration of
turmeric (0.05 per cent), garlic (0.25 per cent), curcumin and ellagic acid
(0.005 per cent each) to rats significantly reduced the number of
gammaglutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci induced by AFB1, which is
considered as the precursor of hepatocellular neoplasm. The researchers concluded:
"These results indicate the usefulness of antioxidant food additives in
ameliorating aflatoxin-induced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity." Salman Hyder, the Zalk Endowed
Professorship in Tumor Angiogenesis and professor of biomedical sciences in
the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research
Center, United States, said: "This exposure to progestin will predispose
a large number of post-menopausal women to future development of breast
cancer. The results of our study show that women could potentially take
curcumin to protect themselves from developing progestin-accelerated
tumors." In the study, researchers
found that curcumin delayed the first appearance, decreased incidence and
reduced multiplicity of progestin-accelerated tumors in an animal model.
Curcumin also prevented the appearance of gross morphological abnormalities
in the mammary glands. In previous studies,
Massachusset University (MU) researchers showed that progestin accelerated
the development of certain tumors by increasing production of a molecule
called VEGF that helps supply blood to the tumor. By blocking the production
of VEGF, researchers could potentially reduce the proliferation of breast
cancer cells. Curcumin inhibits progestin-induced VEGF secretion from breast
cancer cells, Hyder said. "Curcumin and other
potential anti-angiogenic compounds should be tested further as dietary
chemopreventive agents in women already exposed to hormone replacement
therapy containing estrogen and progestin in an effort to decrease or delay
the risk of breast cancer associated with combined hormone replacement
therapy," Hyder said. Researchers have
demonstrated the preventive action of garlic on aflatoxin B1-induced
carcinogenesis in the toad Bufo regularis. Egyptian scientists at the
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University have studied
the action of fresh minced garlic and garlic oil on aflatoxin B1- (AFB1) induced
carcinogenesis in the toad Bufo regularis. According to the study
published in Nutrition Cancer by Mofty M. M., Sakr S. A., Essawy A., Abdel
Gawad H. S., feeding toads with AFB1 induced tumors in 19 per cent of the
animals. Animals given AFB1 together with fresh garlic or garlic oil showed a
significant reduction in tumor incidence. The tumor incidences were
three per cent and nine per cent in animals given AFB1 plus garlic and AFB1
plus garlic oil, respectively. In all three groups, the tumors were located
in the liver (hepatocellular carcinomas), in addition to the kidney in
animals treated with AFB1 alone and together with garlic. The kidney tumors were
diagnosed as metastatic deposits from the primary liver tumors. It is
speculated that one or more constituents of garlic may be responsible for
inhibition of AFB1-induced carcinogenesis in B. regularis. Researchers have also
studied the antioxidants and radical scavenging properties of vegetable
extracts in rats fed Aflatoxin-contaminated diet. The study published in
Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry evaluated the protection role of
garlic, cabbage, and onion extracts against the toxic effects of aflatoxin. According to the study by
Mosaad A. Abdel-Wahhab and Soher E. Aly of the Department of Food Toxicology
and Contaminants, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt, 120 mature
male Sprague?Dawley rats were randomly assigned to eight experimental groups
and treated for 15 days with extracts with or without aflatoxin. Blood
samples were collected from all animals from the retro-orbital venous plexus
at the end of the experimentation period for biochemical analysis. Livers and
kidneys were removed at the end of the treatment period for determination of
glutathione, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase. The results indicated that
animals treated with aflatoxin showed significant signs of aflatoxicosis.
Extracts alone had insignificant effects on all parameters tested, whereas
co-treatment with aflatoxin and extracts resulted in a significant
improvement in all parameters; moreover, garlic extract was found to be the
most effective in the prevention of aflatoxin-induced toxicity and free
radical generation in rats. The Johns Hopkins
University researchers have tested the effectiveness of chlorophyllin, a
derivative of chlorophyll that is used as an over-the-counter dietary
supplement and food colorant, in reducing the risk of liver cancer in
aflatoxin-exposed individuals. Studies conducted in Qidong, People's Republic
of China, showed that consumption of chlorophyllin at each meal resulted in a
55 per cent reduction in the urinary levels of aflatoxin-related DNA adducts.
The researchers believe
that chlorophyllin reduces aflatoxin levels by blocking the absorption of the
compound into the gastrointestinal tract. The results suggest that taking
chlorophyllin, or eating green vegetables that are rich in chlorophyllin, may
be a practical and cost-effective way of reducing liver cancers in areas
where aflatoxin exposures are high. |
Copyright (C) All rights reserved under FoodHACCP.com
If you have any comments, please send your email to
info@foodhaccp.com
