Headlines over the internet suggesting that the spice oregano is capable of curing prostate cancer should not be taken seriously, say experts in media and oncology.
The source of the report is a presentation by Long Island University (LIU) researchers, led by Dr. Supriya Bavadekar, at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego.
According to Dr. Bavadekar, when they exposed human prostate cancer cells to a compound found in oregano called carvacrol, that in the lab it caused apoptosis, or cell death.
A laundry list of compounds kills cancer cells in the lab only to fail to do anything in humans unless it is at such a high level that it would be toxic and deadly.
Nonetheless, Dr. Bavadekar said, "We know that oregano possesses antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on cancer cells really elevate the spice to the level of a super-spice like turmeric. A significant advantage is that oregano is commonly used in food and has a 'Generally Recognized as Safe' status in the US. We expect this to translate into a decreased risk of severe toxic effects."
They reached the conclusion that the anti-cancer effects of pizza, long attributed to lycopene, is actually derived from the carvacrol, leading the researchers to suggest that oregano "may represent a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer."
Source: EB2012
