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Extracts of bitter melon can block breast cancer
February 28, 2010: Extracts of a fruit grown on tropical vines appears to have breast cancer blocking powers, say
researchers. Scientists found key ingredients of the green and knobbly bitter melon fruit (Momordica charantia) interfered with chemical pathways involved in cancer growth.
It turned off signals telling the breast cancer cells to divide and switched on signals encouraging them to commit suicide. Experts told Cancer Research journal more trials were needed.
Although promising as an anti-cancer agent, trials in animals and then humans are still needed, study
Dr Rajesh Agarwal from the University of Colorado, US, said. |
 bitter melon fruit
(Momordica charantia) |
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India announces ten health fellowships
New Delhi, February 22, 2010 (PTI) In a bid to strengthen cooperation in health sector,
India today announced ten fellowships at a premier institute here for member
countries of 'Partners in Population and Development (PPD). The announcement was made by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at a meeting of
the executive committee of PPD held in Dhaka yesterday. He was chairing the meeting.
The ten fellowships at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare will
be available for members of PPD, which is an inter-governmental alliance of 25
developing countries working to promote South-South co- operation in the field of health.
The fellowships are aimed at building their capacity.The issue of further strengthening the organisation and fostering better
South-South cooperation in the area of health was deliberated at length in the meeting. |
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Saffron may halt or reverse sight loss
February, 6, 2010 (ANI) : Indian yellow spice saffron may help people from incurable blindness, according to a new study. Saffron may help halt or reverse sight loss The new research indicates that saffron, traditionally used to
colour and flavour curries and Mediterranean dishes, can prove to be an effective weapon in the fight against one of the causes of sight loss, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The first trials of saffron on human vision shows it significantly enhanced eyesight, reports The Daily Express. Lead researcher Professor Silvia Bisti said, “When
patients were tested with traditional eye charts, a number could read one or two lines smaller than before. Others said they could read newspapers and books again.”
Bisti hailed the results as ‘remarkable’ and claimed saffron “may hold the key to preventing sight loss in the elderly”. |
Indian yellow spice saffron |
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Copper causes Alzheimer's in people over 50
London, January 23, 2010: Copper pipes should not be used as water supply lines as a new study
has found that it leads to build up of metal in body, increasing the risk of
Alzheimer's, heart diseases and diabetes in people over 50. Researchers at University of Michigan in US found that traces of copper from
pipes mix with tap water, which is then consumed by people.
As our body cannot process the metal, it gets accumulated and over a period of
time leads to major health problems like Alzheimer's in later age, according to
the study that appeared in the American Chemical Society's Toxicology journal.
Pointing out that Alzheimer's and heart diseases are made worse by excess copper
and iron, lead researcher George J Brewer said, "the toxicities are so general
that they are a looming public health problem in diseases of ageing and in the
ageing process itself." Brewer also warned that those people, whose copper intake is high, lose their
brain function at over three times the normal rate if they also eat a relatively
high fat diet.
The researchers suggested that people over 50 should avoid vitamin and mineral
pills that contain cooper and iron, reduce meat intake and avoid drinking water
from copper pipes. They should also donate blood regularly to reduce iron levels and take zinc
supplements to lower copper levels, the Daily Mail reported. - PTI
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