Bilberry is any of several species of shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, which produce edible berries valuable for culinary and medicinal purposes. The fruit of these plants have shown promise for inhibiting growth and proliferation of several breast cancer cell lines, and because of this, treatments with bilberry are being developed. Consult an oncologist before using herbal therapies to treat breast cancer.
Anthocyanin
Anthocyanin is a compound found in bilberry and other plants that is responsible for the characteristic red and purple coloration of the fruit. It has been the subject of research as a possible therapy in the treatment of cancer. An April 2009 study in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" investigated an anthocyanin mixture for its ability to inhibit molecular pathways necessary for cancer cell growth and proliferation. The researchers found that anthocyanin reduced cancer-promoting enzymatic activities and is non-specific against various cancer cell lines, including breast cancer.
Bog Bilberry
The bog bilberry, Vaccinium uliginosum, is a blue-pigmented edible berry related to bilberry and the common blueberry. The April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Food Science" included a study that investigated bog bilberries' effect on growth, membrane permeability, and cycles of malignant cancer cell lines. The researchers found that bog bilberry extract treatment reduced the growth of both malignant and nonmalignant cell lines; however, the effects on membrane permeability differed considerably between the malignant and nonmalignant cells. The authors concluded that this phenomenon may in part be due to differences in membrane composition and could be indicative of specificity in treating only cancer cells.
Anti-proliferative Actions of Anthocyanin on Breast Cancer Cells
A study published in the December 2010 issue of "Phytotherapy Research" further confirmed the anti-proliferative actions of anthocyanin in breast cancer cells. The authors of this study investigated the anticancer properties of an anthocyanin-pyruvic acid extract, which is being developed for the food industry. An anthocyanin extract was tested on two breast cancer cell lines and proliferation was assessed. Genetically-programmed cell death was observed in the presence of the extract. In both cell lines, extracts significantly reduced cell proliferation and increased pre-programmed cell death activity. The authors concluded that anthocyanins and the anthocyanin-pyruvic acid compound demonstrated anticancer properties suggesting it is an effective treatment for breast cancer independent of estrogen therapy.
Induced Cancer Cell Death
The April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food" included an article that investigated the antiproliferative effects of bilberry extract in relation to its ability to induce cell death in human breast cancer cells. The investigators found that bilberry extract inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent fashion together with the induction of cell death. They concluded that bilberry extract and not just the purified anthocyanins can inhibit proliferation and induce death of breast cancer cells.
References
- "Journal of Food Science"; Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) extract reduces cultured Hep-G2, Caco-2, and 3T3-L1 cell viability, affects cell cycle progression, and has variable effects on membrane permeability; J. Liu et al; April 2010
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Suppression of the kinase activity of receptor tyrosine kinases by anthocyanin-rich mixtures extracted from bilberries and grapes; N. Teller et al; April 2009
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Cytotoxic effects of bilberry extract on MCF7-GFP-tubulin breast cancer cells; V. Nguyen et al; April 2010
- "Phytotherapy Research"; Blueberry anthocyanins and pyruvic acid adducts: anticancer properties in breast cancer cell lines; A. Faria et al; December 2010
