A natural product that fights the fungus that can destroy grapes, mulberries, peanuts and beansprouts may help prevent cancer, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at Leicester's De Montfort University found that the molecule-called resveratrol-is converted in the body to a known anti-cancer agent that can selectively target and destroy cancer cells.

Previous studies have suggested that resveratrol might be cancer preventing, but this is the first time that scientists appear to have gained an insight into the underlying mechanism of the chemical's anti-cancer properties.

The researchers discovered that resveratrol is processed by an enzyme called CYP1B1, which is found on a variety of different types of tumors. This enzyme converts resveratrol into a toxic product called piceatannol. Earlier research by the Leicester team showed that this process is restricted to the tumor itself, limiting the toxicity to only the cancer cells and serving to selectively destroy them.

Scientists previously believed that CYP1B1 was a cause of cancer, because it is only found in tumors and not in healthy tissue. However, far from causing cancer, this new research indicates that the enzyme is actually there to fight the disease.

"The belief that CYP1B1 is a cause of cancer is like blaming police for a crime just because they are on the scene," said Professor Gerry Potter, the research group leader. "We suspected that resveratrol might be beneficial for health and have cancer preventative properties. This research shows just how it could prevent tumors developing by producing these anti-cancer molecules within the cancer cells themselves."

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring defensive molecule against fungus in grapes and other crops, and is found at higher levels in those that have not been treated with man-made fungicides, Potter added. "Learning from nature in this way will help in our work to design drugs which are selectively activated in a tumor and can form the basis of anti-cancer treatments."

SOURCE:
British Journal of Cancer, February 26, 2002; 86:774-778