Grapes: Finding the cure in food
Medical research involving University of Louisville scientists was recently published in a major industry journal.
Their work involves a substance found in a common fruit.
Many people eat red grapes on a daily basis without realizing just how important the benefits may be.
"When I saw the results, I was blown away. This is incredible," said Dr. Donald Miller, the executive director of the Brown Cancer Center.
Miller is used to seeing progress and the results of hard working researchers, but this finding is especially promising.
"This is a major discovery that's moving forward and we are very excited about it," Miller said, referring to the work of Dr. Huang-g- Zhang and his team of scientists.
They have proven that particular nanoparticles once thought to only be alive in mammals are actually in edible plants too. Most notably: red grapes.
"I'm so excited. For the first time, I can isolate the exsome from a plant," Zhang said.
Zhang and his team are excited because the nanoparticles found in the grapes were given to one group of test mice and a second group did not receive the substance.
Then, all of the mice were then introduced to colitis -- a digestive disease.
After several days of close watch, the mice first given the nanoparticles from the grapes fared much better than those who didn't receive it.
"This suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of plants could be harnassed to make a big difference in how patients with colitis do and how patients receiving chemo can do," said Miller.
"It will be beneficial for us in preventing disease and treating disease," Zhang said.
Zhang said this goes to prove that we should look to how our ancestors ate and added it makes sense that edible plants can help induce our own stem cells to protect us from disease when the foods are consumed in moderation.
"Eat as much grapes as you are comfortable with, but don't overeat them," Zhang said.
The researchers said this is just the beginning.
They expect the nanoparticles from red grapes will soon be used to treat and possibly prevent multiple diseases in the future.
"We believe some of the new treatments, less toxic treatments for cancer, will come out of this building," said Miller.
Clinical trials are going on right now in Louisville to further the grapes research.
The doctors are hoping to apply the technology to other edible plants in the future.