Apple Skins Might Keep Colon Cancer Away
 (HealthDayNews, 10/19/04)

Francis Raul of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, and team, exposed cancer cells to various apple-based antioxidants known as polyphenols. The investigators found that procyanidins, an apple skin polyphenol, blocked cancer growth. The researchers also found that rats exposed to a carcinogen that induces colon cancer had half the chance of developing precancerous lesions if they were fed a solution of water and apple procyanidins. Scientists speculate that the beneficial effect of procyanidins may derive from its antioxidant properties, which ordinarily protect apples from sunlight’s harmful effects.

In addition, Israeli and American cancer researchers report that the gout medication, allopurinol, may block colon cancer, possibly through antioxidant action; however, their study was limited and did not show a direct causal relationship.