Haskap Berries Shown to Have Anti-Cancer Properties
Looking for some good news? Then look no further! New data shows the potential of haskap berries to fight cancer.
A recent series of studies at Dalhousie University in Canada on the health benefits of haskap berries showed remarkable results in terms of potential prevention and treatment of lung cancer.
Study: Haskap Berry Extract Inhibits Lung Cancer Tumor Growth
Let’s get specific. In a September 2020 article in the journal Molecules, Vasantha Rupasinghe and his colleagues demonstrated that dietary supplementation of a haskap berry extract can inhibit lung cancer tumor growth in mice. [i]
Here’s how the study worked:
- Mice were exposed to a tobacco carcinogen called NNK, but had varying levels of haskap extract supplementation before, during and after their carcinogen exposure.
- One group of mice got haskap supplementation prior to their NNK exposure.
- Another group of mice got the haskap supplementation after their NNK exposure.
- A third group of mice got haskap supplementation before, during and after exposure to the carcinogen.
The study measured tumor incidence (whether tumors occurred), tumor multiplicity (how many tumors) and tumor area (the size) after the NNK exposure.
Dietary Haskap Supplementation Linked to Reduced Lung Tumor Growth
Results showed dietary supplementation with haskap significantly reduced the carcinogen-induced lung tumor multiplicity and tumor area. Tumor multiplicity was reduced by 38% in the group that received supplemental haskap berry extract before their NNK exposure (versus a 35% reduction in the post-exposure supplementation and 22% reduction in the continuous supplementation group). Tumor size was reduced by at least 65% in all 3 groups. Tumor incidence was not impacted as all mice developed tumors after their NNK exposure.
Haskap Berry Extract Found to Prevent DNA Damage in Human Lung Cells
But there’s more! A study published in July 2020 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology [ii] looked at whether haskap berry extract could prevent tobacco carcinogen NNK-induced DNA damage to human lung cells.
In this study, lung cells were pre-treated (in test tubes) with the haskap extract prior to NNK exposure. Results showed that this pre-treatment significantly reduced NNK-induced DNA damage, such as DNA fragmentation and other types of damage, compared to non-treated lung cells.
Start Your Haskap Health Journey
These studies show the impressive potential of haskap berries to positively impact our health. Click here to learn more about our Pure Haskap Berry Juice Shots and Powder, and bring the benefits into your life today!
References:
[i] Amararathna, Madumani et al. “Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside-Rich Haskap Berry Administration Suppresses Carcinogen-Induced Lung Tumorigenesis in A/JCr Mice.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 25,17 3823. 22 Aug. 2020, doi:10.3390/molecules25173823
[ii] Amararathna, M et al. “Anthocyanin-rich haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berry extracts reduce nitrosamine-induced DNA damage in human normal lung epithelial cells in vitro.” Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association vol. 141 (2020): 111404. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2020.111404