An herbal extract commonly used by men with an enlarged prostate gland may also possess ant-cancer properties, according to speakers at the American Society for Cell Biology Meeting in San Francisco. Scientists were already aware that Saw Palmetto berry extract (SPBE) had an effect on the prostate gland, however, the team decided to investigate the effect of the extract on prostate cancer cells. Results showed that the extract did indeed slow down the growth of prostate cancer cells in order to slow down generic cancer cells approximately five-times the amount of extract was required. In a follow-up study, the researchers determined that the production of the COX-2 protein was decreased in cancer cells after they had been exposed to SPBE.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.yahoo.com on the 13th December 2000
