Pineapple stem may combat cancer

[theHandpuppet]

Pineapple stem may combat cancer

Extract contains bioactive chemicals

"Two molecules isolated from an extract of crushed pineapple stems have shown promise in fighting cancer growth.
One molecule called CCS blocks a protein called Ras, which is defective in approximately 30% of all cancers.

"The other, called CCZ, stimulates the body's own immune system to target and kill cancer cells.

"It is hoped the research, carried out by Queensland Institute of Medical Research, could lead to new anti-cancer drugs... "

More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4697739.stm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I remember reading about the positive effects of the enzymes in

pineapples in Prevention Magazine about 30 years ago when Prevention Magazine was considered a flaky health nut magazine run by that guy who ended up dying of a heart attack on the Dick Cavett Show.
Funny how much of that "flaky, health nut" stuff is now coming around to be true...after millions and millions of dollars of research, and of course, the investment of pharmaceutical companies......hmmmmmmmmmm.

Wonder how much they will charge for what we were able to get for a nickel 30 years ago.

[KT2000]

2. Wonder how GM would affect this

As we discover that the immune systems of plants have benefits for humans, I wonder if the GM engineers are taking into account the possibility that they may be destroying one benefit for humans to increase yield and require more applications of coporate patented pesticides.
Part of the rush into GM was to precede and make irrelevant consumer objections. Maybe another consideration was to take over the market before information like this was discovered.

[skids]

3. This is typical of western medicine.

We neglect the "folk" remdies because, after all, that's just "anecdotal evidence." Then we turn around decades and many deaths later and say, well, why don't we actually look at those and see if they do anything. Of course, the money needed to apply the same statistical analyses and such to a plant that grows out of the ground has to come from somewhere, and because noone can patent it and so gain a monopoly, noone wants to front that cash.

I'm all for R&D of new compounds (http://alteon.com is very interesting) but this is friggin ridiculous. In an age of scientific advancements we spend our capital on insanely reinventing the wheel for patent purposes. If we were sane we'd be much better off by now. (Oh and did you here a traditional Indian spice may help reverse alzheimers?)

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Was this a folk remedy?

Pineapple stems - not the part you normally eat, I'd have thought.

The extract studied by the scientists, bromelain, is a rich source of enzymes and is widely used as a meat tenderiser, to clarify beer and tan leather hides.

Perhaps it was a folk remedy as well, but it sounds more like a traditional food preparation agent than a medicine.

[tomreedtoon]

4. Shall we all live in a pineapple under the sea?

Are you ready, kids?