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.gif) Monoterpenes are
Believed to Help Prevent Cancer by Sweeping Carcinogens Out of the Body
Grapefruits, like
oranges and other citrus fruits, contain monoterpenes, believed to help prevent
cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies show that
grapefruit may inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in vitro. They
also contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid.
NEWS -- RIO GRANDE
VALLEY GRAPEFRUIT MAY HELP PREVENT CANCERS
By Gillian Swanson, The Monitor View - Copyright © 1998
February 26, 1998 (Weslaco, Texas) -- The juicy, bright-red pulp of the Rio Red
grapefruit may help prevent cancers of the prostate, breast and cervix.
Scientists say the Rio Red contains the chemical compound lycopene, which fights
cancer-causing agents.
Lycopene, which a Harvard scientist found in red tomatoes four years ago,
already is proven to prevent prostate cancer. Now, researchers have found the
same compound in the darkest red variety of grapefruit, the Rio Grande Valley's
own Rio Red.
Scientists at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco already have
tested several varieties of grapefruit ranging from the pale-yellow Marsh White
grapefruit to the succulent Rio Red in search of lycopene. The compound is known
as a "plants.htm"
The Citrus Center grapefruit tests are part of an experiment conducted by Bhimu
Patil, a plant physiologist, and Gerson Peltz, a Brazilian physician, to see
which varieties contain the optimum amount of lycopene and other cancer-fighting
chemicals like citric acid and pectin.
''If we prove the Texas grapefruit has a high lycopene content, we can really
sell our fruit,'' Patil said. ''The high quantity of lycopene we are not able to
get in other states like California and Florida because of the weather and
climate.'' Patil thinks besides the hot summers the reddish color may be related
to the root stock, or bottom part of the plant, which may absorb a greater
amount of nutrients from the soil.
''We are in the process of figuring out why we have really red grapefruit,''
Patil said, adding it simply may be a mystery of Mother Nature. Patil and
Peltz's study of the nutritional benefits of grapefruit is expected to take two
years.
The samples of lycopene extracted from the pulp will be sent to the
"http://www.tamu.edu/ibt/ibt.htm"
"http://www.tamu.edu/ibt/ibt.htm" in Houston, where they will be
tested on cell-culture models to see if the lycopene content of the Rio Red
really is a nutraceutical wonder.
''It may turn out that we may have a higher lycopene content than tomato,''
Patil said. Garlic is currently number one on the National Cancer Institute's
nutraceutical list, with citrus not far behind. However, citrus is a general
term that doesn't specifically mention the especially lycopene-rich Rio Red
variety of grapefruit, Patil said.
''If we prove we have high levels of these compounds, there is a possibility we
can bring this (Rio Red) to the top (of the chart),'' Patil said. ''Lycopene has
already proven it prevents prostate cancer, and it can prevent cervical and
breast cancer.''
Yellow-white pulp grapefruit varieties like the Marsh White do not contain
lycopene. The current test is to determine if varieties in between Rio Red and
Marsh White do have traces of lycopene, and if so, exactly how much. If
scientists can identify the source of the high level of lycopene in the Rio Red,
that could lead to improvement of quality and lycopene content of other
grapefruit varieties.
Last year, the United States spent $100 billion in cancer treatment, Peltz
noted. ''The better tool is prevention,'' he argues. ''In 20 years we won't have
money (for) cancer treatment,'' Peltz said. ''We hope to find the compounds
lycopene and pectin in the Valley. We think this is the way to stop the cancer
problem ...''
In Europe, evidence already has shown people with a high lycopene level in their
blood have a lower incidence of cancer, Patil said. This is due to their diet,
which Americans could emulate by eating foods rich in lycopene -- like Rio Red
grapefruit. Another plus is that Rio Red is a sweet variety, whose good taste
makes it more attractive to consumers, Patil said.
''If the grapefruits are too sour, it's hard to tell your kids to eat grapefruit
every day,'' he said. ''Kids started liking this grapefruit because it is not
too sour, not too sweet -- a good blend.''
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