LOCAL FOODSTUFFS OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER

Researchers have identified
more local foodstuffs with prostate
cancer chemo-preventive substances-
native pear, cloves, horseradish/Moringa
oleifera, bush candle tree, tomatoes, wild
cabbage, soursop, soya beans, chilli
pepper, and green tea.

PROSTATE cancer is on the rise in Nigeria!
Early symptoms of prostate cancer include
frequent urination, nocturia (increased
urination at night), difficulty starting and
maintaining a steady stream of urine,
hematuria (blood in the urine) and dysuria
(painful urination).
According to recent estimates by the World
Health Organisation (WHO), prostate cancer
constitutes 24 per cent of annual cancer
incidence in sub- Saharan Africa, and is the
fifth most common of all cancers. It is the
cancer with the highest incidence, and
consequently, responsible for the highest
mortality rate of all cancers among black
males in sub-Saharan Africa.
But Nigerian researchers have found that
although prostate cancer is historically more
prevalent in males of African extraction, the
incidence can be dramatically reduced, and
the age of onset drastically increased, if the
population at risk consumes the right kinds
of foods in the right proportion, beginning
early in life, especially as prostate cancer
has a gestation period of about 50 years.
A review of laboratory data and available
literature on prostate cancer
chemopreventive substances in Nigerian
foodstuffs found that native pear fruit
(Dacryodes edulis), Moringa oleifera and
cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) contained
prostate active polyphenols like ellagic acid,
gallate, methylgallate, catechol, kaempferol
quercetin and their derivatives.
Dietary polyphenols are antioxidants that
can scavenge biological free radicals, and
chemo-prevent diseases with biological
oxidation as their main etiological factor.
The study was published as part of
Infectious Agents and Cancer Volume 6
Supplement 2, 2011. It was also published in
Proceedings of the First Biennial Conference
on the Science of Global Prostate Cancer
Disparities in Black Men.
Also bush candle tree (Canarium
schweinfurthii) Engl oil contained ten
phenolic compounds and lignans, namely,
catechol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde,
dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, tyrosol, p-
hydroxybenzoic acid, dihydroxybenzoic
acid, vanillic acid, phloretic acid, pinoresinol,
secoisolariciresinol.
In addition, tomatoes (Lycopersicon
esculentum Mill) which contains the
powerful antioxidant and anti-prostate
cancer agent, lycopene, cabbage (Brassica
oleracea) containing indole-3-carbinol, citrus
fruits containing pectin, Soursop (Annona
muricata) containing annonaceous
acetogenins, soya beans (Glycine max)
containing isoflavones, chilli pepper
(Capsicum annuum) containing capsaicin,
and green tea (Camellia sinensis) containing
(-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)
epicatechin, (-) epicatechin-3-gallate and (-)
epigallocatechin -3-gallate which are widely
reported to posses prostate cancer
chemopreventive compounds are also
grown in Nigeria and other African
countries.
The study entitled: “Nigerian foodstuffs
with prostate cancer chemopreventive
polyphenols,” was conducted by Sunday
Eneojo Atawodi of the Biochemistry
Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Kaduna State.
Earlier studies have shown that prostate
cancer is an ideal candidate disease for
chemoprevention because it is typically
diagnosed in men ages greater than 50
years and has a high latency period, and
hence, even a slight delay in the
progression of this disease by chemo-
preventive intervention could result in a
substantial reduction in the incidence of the
disease and, more importantly, improve the
quality of life of the patients.
Epidemiological and laboratory evidence
also indicate that the differences in
incidence of cancers, in general, and
prostate cancer in particular, may be
associated with the presence of certain
polyphenols, especially flavonoids in the
diets of these populations.
Commonly called cloves, Syzygium
aromaticum belongs to the plant family
Myrtaceae. The locals, especially in Lagos call
it conophor.
Commonly called African pear, native pear
or bush butter, Dacryodes edulis belongs to
the plant family Burseraceae. It called
safoutier in French. In Nigeria, it is ibe in
Kalabari; boshu in Bokyi; orunmwun in Edo
(indicating something edible); ube in Ibo;
orumu in Urhobo; and elemi in Yoruba.
Commonly known in the English language
as the ben oil tree, the horseradish tree, or
the drumstick tree, Moringa oleifera belongs
to the plant family Moringaceae. Moringa
oleifera is a local plant found almost in
every region of the country has been
shown to be useful purifying water,
treating malnutrition, boosting immunity,
fighting microbes, and cancers.
In Nigeria, it is called Ewe ile, Ewe igbale, or
Idagbo monoye (the tree which grows
crazily) in Yoruba; Gawara, Habiwal hausa,
Konamarade, or Rini maka in Fulani;
Bagaruwar maka, Bagaruwar masar,
Barambo, Koraukin zaila, Shipka hali, Shuka
halinka, Rimin nacara, Rimin turawa, Zogall,
or Zogalla-gandi in Hausa; and Odudu oyibo,
Okochi egbu, Okwe olu, Okwe oyibo,
Okughara ite, Uhe, Ikwe beke in Ibo.
Until now, various laboratory researches
have confirmed that Moringa is a natural
energy booster, strengthens the immune
system, has antibiotic properties, cures
headaches, migraines, asthma, and ulcers,
reduces arthritic pains and inflammations,
and restricted tumour growths.
Canarium schweinfurthii belongs to the
plant family Burseraceae, commonly called
African elemi, incense tree or bush candle
tree. To the French it is elemier d’Afrique,
ekpakpogho in Edo, eben etiridon in Efik,
etile in Hausa, oda in Igala, ube-osa in Igbo,
and ako in Yoruba. The resin is generally
held to have action on skin-affections. It is
used for eczema, the inner bark is rub on
the skin for leprosy, and on to ulcers.
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is of the
Solanaceae family. It is called ekhue in Edo.
Leaves are used to treat eyes with
bloodstain. Young fresh leaves are
squeezed and the juice is dropped into the
eyes, one drop, twice daily.
Kale is a green leafy vegetable that belongs
to the brassica family, a group of
vegetables including cabbage, collards and
brussels sprouts that have recent
widespread attention due to their health
promoting, sulphur-containing
phytonutrients. Its Latin name is Brassica
oleracea.
The common name(s) is, Kale, Borecole. In
Asaba, Delta State of Nigeria, kale is nick-
named “hospital too far.” This is because of
the health benefits of kale.