Indian Vegetable May Slow Or Kill Breast Cancer Cells

St. Louis, MO, United States (AHN) – A vegetable extract commonly used for cooking in India and China has shown promise in its ability to kill breast cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.

Researchers at Saint Louis University said in a statement that bitter melon was shown effective in killing breast cancer cells in a controlled lab setting. Lead researcher Dr. Ratna Ray said she will next test its effectiveness in an animal model.

Previous research has shown bitter melon can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, Ray said in a statement. It is commonly used in India and China as a folk medicine to treat diabetes.

Ray said it is still too early to determine its effectiveness as a cancer fighter, but she said initial results justify more research.

Ray’s report appears in the March 1 edition of the journal Cancer Research.

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