![\"mang-fights-cancer\"](\"http:\/\/images1.blisstree.com\/files\/2010\/01\/mang-fights-cancer.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe ancient and lovely mango just got a big public relations boost. The fruit has been found to prevent or stop certain breast cancer and colon cancer cells in the lab.<\/p>\n
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Texas AgriLife Research<\/a> food scientists studied five varieties of mangoes that are more common in the US: Kent, Francine, Ataulfo, Tommy\/Atkins and Haden. Dr. Susanne Talcott and her husband, Dr. Steve Talcott, conducted the study, one of several commissioned by the National Mango Board to better determine the fruit’s nutritional value. <\/p>\n The Talcotts studied the effect of mango polyphenol extracts (natural substances in plants that promote better health) in vitro<\/em> on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. <\/p>\n While the mango doesn’t have as much antioxidant power the blueberry or pomegranate<\/a>, it’s still a contender. “It [the mango] has about four to five times less antioxidant capacity than an average wine grape, and it still holds up fairly well in anticancer activity. If you look at it from the physiological and nutritional standpoint … it would be a high-ranking super food,” Dr. Susanne Talcott said.<\/p>\n In the lab, mangoes revealed fighting power against lung, leukemia and prostate cancers<\/strong>, but they were found to be the most effective on the most common breast<\/a> and colon cancers<\/strong>. <\/p>\n The Talcotts also found that the mango wasn’t harmful to normal cells when a reasonable concentration was used, but it still acted as an anti-cancer agent against some cancer cells. They hope perform a small clinical trial with people at risk for certain cancers, and perhaps move forward with a larger trial in the future to see if the mango holds clinical relevance. Meanwhile, the mango may indeed have earned the right to be called a super fruit!<\/p>\n (USDA-Agriculture Research Service photo by Wilhelmina Wasik)<\/p>\n Post from: Blisstree<\/a><\/p>\n