Grape Seed Extract Fights Leukemia

According to researchers at the University of Kentucky, grape seed extract forces laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide. They found that within 24 hours, 76% of leukemia cells had died after being exposed to the extract. What’s more: Investigators also separated the cell-signaling pathway that occurs in this cause-and-effect relationship; they uncovered that the extract activates JNK, a protein that regulates the apoptotic (cell death) pathway.

“These results could have implications for… grape seed extract into prevention or treatment of hematological malignancies — such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma — and possibly other cancers,” said the study’s lead author, Xianglin Shi, Ph.D., professor in the Graduate Center for Toxicology at the University of Kentucky. “What everyone seeks is an agent that has an effect on cancer cells but leaves normal cells alone, and this shows that grape seed extract fits into this category.”

Shi warns that the research is not far enough along to suggest that people should consume grapes, grape seeds or grape skin in excess to stave off cancer. “This is very promising research, but it is too early to say this is chemo-protective,” he says.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: This research offers preliminary evidence that grape seed extract may be an ally in fighting cancer, and further studies will need to be conducted to establish this study’s findings about its potential. In the meantime, taking grape seed extract may be a smart idea, as other research has shown it had a wide range of health benefits.