The trendy superfood 'red dates' from Asia kill cancer cells in the lab, new research suggests.

 

新研究发现，亚洲流行的超级食物红枣能杀死实验室里的癌细胞。

 

Jujube fruits, which are known as red dates due to them looking similar to the Middle-Eastern staple¹, programme lung, breast and prostate cancer cells to commit suicide, a study published in the journal Food & Function found.

 

Red dates are thought to trigger cancer cell death by causing 'internal stress' in tumours², according to researchers from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

 

The results occurred after cancer cells were exposed to jujube in the lab. It is therefore unclear if the fruit helps to prevent or treat the disease in humans.

 

The researchers exposed human lung, breast and prostate cancer cells to eight compounds found in jujube fruits.

 

Results suggest four of the compounds reduce the survival rate of these cells.

 

In addition, three red-date compounds trigger cancerous cells to kill themselves.

 

Internal stress caused by the compounds is thought to damage tumours' structures.

 

The researchers believe jujube extracts could be used in cancer treatments in traditional Chinese medicine.

 

They add, however, further research is required to determine how jujube fruit's compounds trigger cancer cell death.

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