Pterostilbene: cancer fighter

Recent research by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators has fortified the standing of pterostilbene, a berry and grape compound cited for its health benefits, as a cancer inhibitor.

Scientists found that the compound strongly suppresses a type of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing processes.

Researchers at the ARS Natural Products Utilization Research Laboratory in Oxford, Miss., targeted an enzyme called cytochrome P450, which sets off a variety of compounds—known as procarcinogens—that can turn substances such as cigarette smoke and pesticides into cancer-causing agents. Cytochromes are a factor in people’s varying responses to drugs and toxins entering their bodies.

Numerous animal studies have focused on pterostilbene (pronounced "tare-o-STILL-bean") and its potential benefits to human health. This includes work showing that pterostilbene can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, and that the compound is present in a genus of shrubs that includes many types of berries, including blueberries.

Studies that found that the compound is a powerful antioxidant that shows cancer-fighting properties similar to those of resveratrol. Indeed, pterostilbene is a derivative of resveratrol, a compound found in large quantities in the skins of red grapes that's known for its cardiovascular and cancer-fighting benefits.