http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050927/hl_nm/pomegranate_cancer_dc

Pomegranate juice promising for prostate cancer By Karla Gale

Pomegranate extract may prevent prostate cancer or slow its growth, if
results of lab experiments conducted at the University of Wisconsin in
Madison translate to real-world benefits.

Dr. Hasan Mukhtar and his colleagues note in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences Early Edition that pomegranates are high in polyphenolic
compounds, making its juice higher in antioxidant activity than red wine and
green tea.

When they incubated prostate cancer cells with low concentrations of
pomegranate extract, they observed a dose-related inhibition of cell growth.

In prostate cancer cells driven by male hormones (androgens) and expressing
prostate specific antigen (PSA), treatment with pomegranate extract
decreased androgen receptors and PSA expression.

When human prostate cancer cells were injected into mice, feeding the
animals pomegranate extract delayed the appearance of tumors. Tumor growth
was significantly inhibited and survival was prolonged.

As for whether pomegranate juice could be recommended to men with prostate
cancer, Mukhtar told Reuters Health: "Based on the data we have it's highly
unlikely that it will produce any adverse effects and it is highly possible
that it will produce useful effects."

Moreover, he added, since his group has also shown that pomegranate extract
inhibits skin cancer growth, it is possible that the juice would be of
benefit in many types of cancer.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Early Edition
September 26, 2005.