Fighting Pancreatic Cancer Cells

According to two new University of Illinois studies, Celery, artichokes, and herbs, especially Mexican oregano, all contain apigenin and luteolin, flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting an important enzyme. 

According to Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food chemistry and food toxicology, “Apigenin alone induced cell death in two aggressive human pancreatic cancer cell lines. But we received the best results when we pre-treated cancer cells with apigenin for 24 hours, then applied the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine for 36 hours.” Pancreatic cancer patients would probably not be able to eat enough flavonoid-rich foods to raise blood plasma levels of the flavonoid to an effective level. But scientists could design drugs that would achieve those concentrations, de Mejia said.

Read more here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/264940.php