Pigment Found in Chamomile, Parsley Kills Mesothelioma Cells

A yellowish pigment common to parsley, celery, chamomile tea, oranges and grapefruit may be the latest treatment for mesothelioma cancer, a new study shows. While numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer and antioxidant properties of apigenin (API), the natural pigment found in these plants and vegetables, researchers recently tested it against malignant mesothelioma cells. Doctors at the University of Rome evaluated the anti-tumor activities of API in mice injected with mesothelioma cells. API inhibited malignant mesothelioma (MM) cell survival and activated cell death, known as apoptosis. Mice treated with API survived nearly twice as long as the control mice, underlining the compound’s potential for future research and clinical trials. “We demonstrated for the first time that API treatment was able to inhibit the growth of MM cell lines in vivo,” lead researcher Dr. Laura Masuelli wrote in the study. “Overall, we demonstrated that Apigenin inhibited in vitro and in vivo malignant mesothelioma cells growth by targeting different signaling pathways and inducing apoptosis.” Apigenin Lessened Fluid Buildup in Mice Lab mice implanted with MM cells experienced abnormal fluid buildup in their abdominal cavity. Injecting API directly into the abdomen (intraperitoneal injections) improved the condition and increased the median survival of the mice. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second-most-common type of the asbestos-related cancer. Tumors form on the per...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: apigenin benefits apigenin for cancer apigenin for mesothelioma new mesothelioma treatment Source Type: news